Consequent gives Baffert ninth consecutive Starlet Stakes victory

CYPRESS, Calif. - Shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday, jockey Kazushi Kimura was dramatically unseated from Discrepancy when the filly ducked out sharply on the turn of a sprint at Los Alamitos. Kimura escaped without injury.

Shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday, Kimura was part of Los Alamitos history. He rode Consequent to a win in the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, a record ninth consecutive win for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in the track’s leading race for 2-year-old fillies.

For Kimura, the $200,000 Starlet Stakes was his first career stakes win at Los Alamitos. Kimura, the champion jockey in Canada from 2021-2023, has ridden full time in Southern California since last winter. He rode in California and at Woodbine, near Toronto, in recent years.

Consequent ($7.60) closed from third in a field of five to finish a length in front of 7-1 Cashed, who ran a game second after setting the pace. Nimah, the 2-5 favorite trained by Baffert, was in contention to the final furlong before fading to third. Baffert did not attend Saturday’s race.

:: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now.

Consequent was timed in 1:44.03 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 67.

Kimura rode Consequent for the first time on Saturday. The filly, by Into Mischief, had her second start in the Starlet, three weeks after winning a maiden race at a mile at Del Mar.

Consequent was within 2 1/2 lengths of Cashed throughout the Starlet. Kimura positioned Consequent on the inside of Cashed and Nimah to early stretch, where he moved the filly outside of those fillies. Kimura’s goal was to stalk the front two.

“I needed to keep urging and keep riding and stay close,” Kimura said.

Cashed, trained by Doug O’Neill, set a modest early pace of 23.52 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.01 for the first half-mile.

Consequent trailed by about 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining and steadily moved closer to Cashed. Consequent took the lead with about 80 yards remaining.

“My horse was steady and kept coming,” Kimura said.

Cashed finished four lengths in front of Nimah, who was ridden by Juan Hernandez. Cosmic Heat and Jewlz completed the order of finish.

Nimah had her second start in the Starlet. She won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 23. Despite the loss on Saturday, Hernandez said Nimah can be a factor in future races around two turns.

“I think first time going a mile and a sixteenth she improved,” Hernandez said. “She can handle the distance. She needs more experience.”

Consequent races for owner and breeder Juddmonte Farm. She has earned $156,000 from her two wins.

Baffert has won the Starlet a record 12 times, including three times at Hollywood Park before that track’s closure in 2013.

The race was moved to Los Alamitos in 2014. D. Wayne Lukas, Phil D’Amato and Simon Callaghan won the first three runnings of the Starlet at Los Alamitos from 2014 to 2016. Baffert has controlled the race since.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.