Under the Stars Repels Awake At Midnyte in Santa Ynez

Running in a stakes race as a maiden did not work out as planned for Under the Stars .

Tackling graded stakes company after an initial victory produced a far more satisfying result as a more experienced Under the Stars turned in a determined effort in the stretch to capture the $200,500 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Jan. 8 at Santa Anita Park.

Showing speed from the break, the daughter of the late Pioneerof the Nile fended off a strong bid turning for home from Awake At Midnyte , who had beaten Under the Stars when they both debuted Oct. 31, to prevail by three-quarters of a length for trainer Bob Baffert and the Coolmore ownership group of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. 

"She really dug in. It was nice to see her do that," said winning rider Flavien Prat.

The grade 2 win came in Under the Stars' fourth career start, following a third behind Awake At Midnyte in her first start, a third behind stablemate Edna  in the Desi Arnaz Stakes, and a Dec. 11 three-length victory in a six-furlong maiden race at Los Alamitos Race Course.

It was her first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs for the BloodHorse Maiden Watch standout.

Bred in Kentucky by Eaton, the daughter of the Storm Cat mare Untouched Talent  is a half sister to Baffert's grade 1 winner and 2012 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Bodemeister  , now a stallion in Turkey. She is the ninth of 11 foals from her dam and her second graded stakes winner.

The grade 1-placed Untouched Talent's most recent foals are 2-year-old and yearling colts by Triple Crown winner Justify  . Of her eight foals to race, seven are winners.

 "She's improving, she's been working heads-up with that filly that won yesterday (Adare Manor , a 12-length maiden winner)," Baffert said about his third-straight Santa Ynez winner and seventh overall. "When we came into this race, I was worried about the post, but she's improving. She's a half sister to Bodemeister, so she has the pedigree to go further and Flavien thinks she wants to go further also. It's nice when they're bred that well and the Coolmore gang, the ownership group, they've been real patient."

The victory continued a torrid streak for Baffert since Santa Anita's winter meet began Dec. 26. Under the Stars was his 11th winner from 23 starts and fourth in a stakes. Overall he has a mark of 11-3-4 with just five unplaced starters at the meet. No other trainer has more than 5 wins.

Though the race offered 17 qualifying points for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), Under the Stars will not receive the winner's share of 10 points since Baffert is in the midst of a two-year suspension at Churchill Downs and his horses are ineligible for Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks points.

After rallying from fifth in the maiden win, Under the Stars and Prat broke smoothly from the rail Saturday and rushed out for the lead in the seven-furlong stakes with Miss Mattie B  and 71-1 longshot Big Shamrock . 

"I didn't know what to expect before the race but she broke well and I used that to my advantage," Prat said.

A 4-5 favorite, Under the Stars ($3.80) led by a head over Westlake Racing Stable's Miss Mattie B through a half-mile in :44.95. As she edged away from that rival, Reddam Racing's Awake At Midnyte rallied three-wide to join her leaving the quarter pole.

Though the Doug O'Neill-trained daughter of Nyquist   had momentum, Under the Stars still had some run left. She held a narrow half-length lead at the eighth pole after six furlongs in 1:09.61 and widened it slightly in the final furlong to cross the wire in 1:22.51.

"The seven furlongs were perfect for her," Prat said. 

Awake At Midnyte settled for second and collected four Oaks points, finishing 6 1/2 lengths ahead of Miss Mattie B, who was bought for just $10,000 from the Lane's End consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

A daughter of Tonalist   trained by Bob Hess Jr., Miss Mattie B picked up two points. 

Big Switch , the 8-5 second choice, broke a step slowly and never threatened while finishing fourth and netting one point.