Forever Darling sold, but will still race for Baltas

ARCADIA, Calif. - Forever Darling, the winner of the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Jan. 2, has been acquired privately by Katsumi Yoshida of Japan, trainer Richard Baltas said on Sunday.

Baltas said the deal was finalized after Forever Darling won her first stakes in the Santa Ynez for a partnership that includes Baltas, Hebert Bloodstock, and JK Racing.

Baltas said Forever Darling was purchased as a broodmare prospect, but will remain in the United States this year.

“They’ll leave her with me for the rest of the year,” Baltas said. “It’s kind of a nice thing. I didn’t think they’d leave her with me.”

Forever Darling has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $155.400. She beat maidens in her second start here in September, and was eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 31 in her final start at 2.

Baltas said he plans to skip Saturday’s $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies with Forever Darling, and is targeting the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes, a Grade 3 for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on March 5.