Forced Entry Takes Santa Ysabel for Baffert, Hernandez
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Forced Entry wins the Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Juan Hernandez put the cap on a phenomenal weekend at Santa Anita Park March 8 as Forced Entry successfully graduated out of the maiden ranks with a win in the $101,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3).
The triumph continued Baffert’s dominance in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, giving him a sixth Santa Ysabel in a row and record-extending 11th overall.
The complexion of the race changed drastically when last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, Super Corredora , completely missed the break and trailed several lengths behind the field early. That allowed Baffert-trained French Blue to establish the lead.
In her Feb. 1 maiden triumph, Hernandez had guided the Forced Entry to an impressive frontrunning score by 7 1/4 lengths. The Charlatan filly would show a new dimension Sunday as Hernandez relaxed her perfectly on the outside, rating fourth behind opening fractions of :23.34 and :47.57.
“She broke really sharp, I broke better than everyone,” Hernandez told Santa Anita publicity. “Bob was working this filly kind of off the pace to see if she would like it and she was doing pretty good in the mornings. I saw the inside horse wanted to go, so I just said, 'Okay, go ahead, go, I'm just going to try like how they have been teaching her in the mornings, working from off the pace.' It worked out pretty good.”
Hernandez would cruise the filly past the second- and third-place runners entering the far turn, leaving only her stablemate in her path. Florent Geroux was busy urging French Blue on, but would prove no match in the stretch.
At the wire, Forced Entry was 1 3/4 lengths on top while clocking 1:44.79 and paying $7.60. Bank Shot , a 22-1 longshot, would collar French Blue for second.
"We've always been high on her. Juan rode a great race, settled," Baffert told FanDuel TV's Christina Blacker. "The favorite (Super Corredora) got left horribly, so I knew our chances were moved way up after that. You hate to see that. ... I'm proud of Forced Entry."
Forced to race at the tail of the field, Super Corredora was never able to build momentum and finished sixth.
Forced Entry’s victory was a fourth in graded company on the weekend for Hernandez, who celebrated his 34th birthday March 7, and the third of which he won for Baffert.
Bob Baffert (left) celebrates with Juan Hernandez in the winner’s circle
Additionally, the win set up the ownership trio of Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman even further for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. Already the owners of points-leader Splendora , the 50 qualifying points earned Sunday place Forced Entry in fifth on the leaderboard. The remainder of the top 5 finishers earned points on a 25-15-10-5 scale.
"They got Explora, they got this filly now, so they've got nice fillies," Baffert said.
Bred in Kentucky by Stoneriggs Farm, the 'Three Amigos' purchased Forced Entry for $375,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale out of the breeder's consignment. She is out of the stakes-winning Violence mare Violent Times .
Forced Entry becomes the second graded stakes winner for Charlatan, a former Baffert trainee, after Labwah scored in a group 3 at Meydan Racecourse Feb. 20. The stallion stands the 2026 season at Hill ‘n’ Dale for a $25,000 fee.
“It's good for Charlatan,” Baffert told Santa Anita publicity. “He was a good horse and (his offspring) are finally coming around now. We have a bunch of Charlatans that look good, so it's a big day for Charlatan."
Baffert and the owners are scheduled to leave in the morning for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, which begins March 10. Given their recent success, it would be safe to assume Baffert will have a little extra leeway picking out fillies.
"That's going to be a fun trip," he said.
Video: Santa Ysabel S. (G3)
Counterbalance Earns First Stakes Win in China Doll
Earlier in the day, Amerman Racing homebred Counterbalance rallied off her second consecutive victory to begin her 3-year-old season, earning her first stakes score in the $98,000 China Doll Stakes.
Counterbalance wins the China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita Park
The Caravaggio filly broke well beneath Kazushi Kimura and tracked pacesetter Hypergamy through fractions of :23.33, :46.39, and 1:09.55. Favored Himika forced pressure from the outside and even passed Counterbalance turning for home, but the dark bay or brown filly stayed tough and surged forward between horses. Two lengths clear of Hypergamy at the wire, she stopped the clock for 1 mile in 1:33.74 over firm turf while paying $7.20 to win. Himika was third.
Both Kimura and trainer Michael McCarthy told Santa Anita publicity that the "feisty" filly can be difficult to train, but has gradually grown in maturity, leading to her recent success.
"As the fall progressed, she seemed to kind of mature and trained better," McCarthy said. "She had more self-confidence."