Eda Blitzes 6 1/2 Furlongs in Desi Arnaz in 1:15.53
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Eda cruises to victory in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar
Baoma's Eda fulfilled high expectations at 1-5 odds in taking the five-horse $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths Nov. 13 at Del Mar.
The daughter of Munnings pressed the pace of Under the Stars , took command after a half-mile, and left her opponents behind in the stretch for a widening victory in fast time. She raced 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.53 on a fast track, returning $2.40 as the overwhelming favorite.
The Desi Arnaz was her second straight stakes tally for Eda and earned her $60,000 to push her total earnings to $190,000 in the fifth start of her career. She came into the race off a smart tally in the Oct. 24 Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita Park and now has a 3-1-0 record in five starts.
Finishing second in the 6 1/2-furlong test was Tonito's , while Under the Stars, the winner's stablemate, held third. Lady T and Endless Thirst rounded out the short field.
Del Mar's leading rider, Flavien Prat, was at the helm.
"She broke well and had good speed," he said. "When we turned for home and a horse came up outside us, I shook her up. Then she responded with a good kick."
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert recorded his third victory in the Arnaz and his 145th stakes score overall at the seaside track.
"Actually, (Flavien) Prat thought this was the best race she has run," Baffert said. "I really thought she relaxed well. I thought my other horse (Under the Stars) was going to be farther back but she broke well and maybe I had her a little too sharp. It was kind of a last minute decision to run Eda here because we also plan to run her back in the Starlet (G1) but I loved the way she was able to relax and then kick away clear. Prat doesn't say much, but he was really impressed with her."
The Starlet is a $300,000 race Dec. 4 over 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos Race Course.
Bred by Nathan McCauley, Eda is the first foal out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Show Me . Show Me's second foal was a Karakontie filly born this year.
The mare, whose lone victory came in a 1 1/16-mile turf race, is a half sister to Aegean (Northern Afleet ), a precocious sprinter who won the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes (G3) against males and added the Dream Supreme Stakes and Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint against females.
Agent Donato Lanni purchased Eda for $550,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the consignment of Eddie Woods.
Charles and Susan Chu are the principals of Baoma.