Bast a heavy favorite in Grade 2 Santa Ynez

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bast was two lengths from being the champion 2-year-old filly of 2019, at least from trainer Bob Baffert’s perspective.

A three-time Grade 1 winner last year, Bast finished third by that margin to British Idiom in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, setting the pace before fading through the stretch.

“She went too fast on that deep racetrack,” Baffert said. “I gave the wrong instructions. She should have been champion.”

Bast won the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 7 in her final race of 2019. Sunday, she will have an early start to her 2020 campaign in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

Baffert has won the Starlet six times. Bast will be the first of those to run in the $200,000 Santa Ynez. The others did not have the first start of their 3-year-old season until February or later.

Bast also won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita last year. With her impressive credentials, Bast will be a heavy favorite in a field of seven.

“I thought I’d run her back and then give her a little break,” Baffert said. “I’ve got a plan. She’s doing well. Sometimes, I’ve sat on these horses and they’ve gotten hurt training.”

Bast, who will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, drew the outside post. She has sufficient speed to take the lead, or can stalk the pace.

Owned by Charles and Susan Chu, Bast is the only stakes winner in the field. K P Dreamin was third to Bast in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes here on Sept. 27 and third in the Starlet. She finished eighth of nine in the BC Juvenile Fillies after a poor start.

Orquidias Biz was second in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs in November in her stakes debut, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Leucothea. Jeff Mullins trains K P Dreamin and Orquidias Biz.

The Santa Ynez will be the stakes debut for Auberge, Golden Principal, Lovely Lila, and Paige Anne, all winners of their last start.

Paige Anne won a maiden special weight race at a mile at Los Alamitos on Dec. 15 in her fifth start.

Auberge won a maiden special weight race at six furlongs in her debut here on Oct. 27 for Baffert, leading throughout and drawing off by 7 3/4 lengths. She worked a quick half-mile in 47.20 seconds on Dec. 29.

Golden Principal won a maiden special weight at six furlongs in her debut at Del Mar on Nov. 30 for Baffert as the 1-2 favorite. Baffert said Golden Principal was ill for a brief period after her win. She worked a quick six furlongs in 1:12.80 from the gate on Dec. 28.

Auberge and Golden Principal have the inside two post positions.

“I wanted to run the other fillies in an allowance race, but it didn’t fill,” Baffert said. “I entered everything.

“I don’t like the way they drew. They’re next to each other.”