Baffert impressed with Himika's debut victory
Himika cost $900,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in April, the second most-expensive filly of the four-day auction.
On Thursday at Santa Anita, Himika showed why she drew a sky-high price.
Making her debut for trainer Bob Baffert, Himika won a five-furlong maiden race by six lengths in the deceptive time of 57.86 seconds.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Himika, a strong favorite who paid $3, stalked Stuffy Mist to early stretch before taking the lead with more than a furlong remaining. Hernandez did not urge Himika in the final furlong.
“I think she is a very nice filly,” Baffert said. “I liked the way she sat behind horses. She’s professional.”
Himika worked a furlong in 9.8 seconds before the sale.
“She was impressive,” Baffert said.
Owned by Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp., Himika is by Curlin and is out of Motivated Seller, by Into Mischief. Motivated Seller won 3 of 6 starts, all in sprints, for trainer Chad Brown. Motivated Seller was second in the Fort Spring Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Keeneland in 2020.
“She’s out of a fast mare,” Baffert said of Himika.
The first open company stakes for 2-year-old fillies in California this year is the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 10, a prep for the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 6.
Baffert has won the Del Mar Debutante for the Chus twice in the last decade, including last year’s running with Tenma, who was most recently fourth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 2.
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