Late addition Faypien takes Angels Flight
ARCADIA, Calif. - Faypien and Noted and Quoted gave trainer Bob Baffert a one-two finish in Sunday’s $78,345 Angels Flight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, a result that could have been reversed with a better trip for Noted and Quoted.
Faypien ($7.40) won the seven-furlong race by a half-length over Noted and Quoted, who raced behind fillies at a pivotal point in the stretch. Selcourt, the 6-5 favorite, finished third by 1 1/2 lengths after failing to take the turn well.
“She wanted to run off the racetrack,” said Tyler Baze, who rode Selcourt. “She wanted to take a right-hand turn and not a left.”
Faypien, the second choice, was timed in 1:23.21 and had an ideal trip under jockey Joe Talamo. Faypien was fifth after a quarter-mile and moved into contention with a three-wide rally on the turn. Faypien took the lead with more than a furlong remaining, and was urged to the wire by Talamo.
“She made the lead a little too easily,” Talamo said. “I think she was waiting a little bit.”
Queen Laila finished fourth, followed by Princess Karen and Go On Mary.
Noted and Quoted (7-2) raced behind and inside of fillies in early stretch and closed well once clear.
Noted and Quoted won the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes last October and was seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November. Noted and Quoted was eased in the Sunland Park Oaks in New Mexico in March, her only start this year.
Faypien was added to the field on Thursday after Baffert was made aware the race would not have many runners. He was encouraged when she drew the outside post of the six runners.
Faypien was third in a maiden race in her debut on March 11 won by Paradise Woods, who later won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 8. Faypien won a seven-furlong maiden race by 4 1/4 lengths on April 23.
“After her last race, she trained like she was worthy of an entry in this race,” said Jimmy Barnes, Baffert’s top assistant. “We took a shot.”
Owned by Susan and Charles Chu’s Baoma Corp., Faypien was purchased for $720,000 at the 2016 Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training, the second most expensive filly of the sale.
By Ghostzapper, Faypien has earned $85,680.