Baffert's Zenyatta Stakes Fillies Boast Sire Power
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Photo: Benoit Photo
As Time Goes By looks for her first grade 1 stakes win in the Zenyatta Stakes
If As Time Goes By and Private Mission 's racing records weren't enough to merit respect in the Oct. 3 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, one look at their sire power would vault them into the stratosphere.
Multiple graded stakes winner As Time Goes By is by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah , while lightly raced Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) winner Private Mission is by Into Mischief , whose 2022 stud fee was just announced at $250,000.
Bob Baffert trains both Kentucky-bred fillies. As Time Goes By, a 4-year-old, races for the Coolmore-associated Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith, while 3-year-old Private Mission races for the Baoma Corporation of Charlie and Susan Chu.
As Time Goes By returns to Santa Anita for the 1 1/16-mile Zenyatta, which offers a "Win & You're In" berth to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). As Time Goes By has won three of her four lifetime starts at Santa Anita, including the Santa Margarita (G2) and Santa Maria (G2) stakes in back to back efforts earlier this year after running second to champion Swiss Skydiver in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1).
As Time Goes By is not only by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, she is out of Take Charge Lady , a mare with incredible race and production records. A multiple grade 1 winner and earner of nearly $2.5 million on the racetrack, Take Charge Lady has produced champion Will Take Charge and millionaire Take Charge Indy and was named Broodmare of the Year in 2013.
Since the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, As Time Goes By has run fourth in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar and sixth in the Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. In Sunday's race that has drawn eight entries, John Velazquez replaces Mike Smith in the irons from post 2.
Flavien Prat, the runaway winner of Del Mar's jockey title this summer, has the mount on Private Mission in post 3. He piloted her in the one-mile Torrey Pines Aug. 21 at Del Mar when she overwhelmed rivals to win by 6 1/2 lengths. The Zenyatta would be her first start in a grade 1 race.
"We didn't know what she was going to do, but we always thought she could run long," said Baffert after the Torrey Pines. "This was a good spot, and she passed the route test. That's very important. That's where all the money is."
Baoma purchased Private Mission for $750,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Out of the stakes-winning Unbridled mare Private Gift , Private Mission is a half sister to stakes winner Secret Someone . In four previous starts, Private Mission has won three times.
Baffert will be going for his fourth win in the Zenyatta. He took it earlier with Vale Dori in 2018, Tough Tiz's Sis in 2007, and Magical Allure in 1998.
Miss Bigly (Juan Hernandez, post 4) and California Kook (Abel Cedillo, post 5) also bring good Del Mar form to the Zenyatta.
Owned by Mike Martinez's Agave Racing Stable and Robin Hoffos' Rockin Robin Racing Stables and trained by Phil D'Amato, Miss Bigly most recently scored a neck victory in the one-mile Tranquility Lake Stakes Aug. 27 at Del Mar. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Gemologist has come a long way since being claimed for $30,000 at Fair Grounds in January 2020.
California Kook, bred in California by her owners, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, and trained by Peter Miller, ran second in the 2020 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) and fourth in that season's Del Mar Derby (G2T) against males. Though primarily a turf specialist, California Kook, a 4-year-old daughter of Boisterous , earned a victory and runner-up finish in two allowance/optional claiming races on the dirt at Del Mar this past summer.
Miller also trains Samurai Charm (Kyle Frey, post 1), who brings the best winning streak into the Zenyatta. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of First Samurai has won five straight, unbeaten since finishing third in her racing debut in August 2019.
After breaking her maiden at Los Alamitos in her second start, Samurai Charm was away from the races until this past July. She enters off a victory in the one-mile Dark Mirage Stakes at Los Alamitos Sept. 19.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, October 03, 2021, Race 9Entries: Zenyatta S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Samurai Charm (KY)
Kyle Frey
122
Peter Miller
10/1
2
2As Time Goes By (KY)
John R. Velazquez
124
Bob Baffert
2/1
3
3Private Mission (KY)
Flavien Prat
120
Bob Baffert
5/2
4
4Miss Bigly (KY)
Juan J. Hernandez
122
Philip D'Amato
6/1
5
5California Kook (CA)
Abel Cedillo
122
Peter Miller
8/1
6
6Miss Stormy D (KY)
Geovanni Franco
122
Carla Gaines
15/1
7
7Lady Kate (KY)
Joe Bravo
122
Eddie Kenneally
8/1
8
8Stellar Sound (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
122
Michael W. McCarthy
5/1
