Mufajaah gets first stakes win in Pippin

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Mufajaah put in a sustained run for a three-length win over Haunted Heroine in the $100,000 Pippin for fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. It was another half-length back to Pearl Turn in third.

The Pippin, at 1 1/16 miles, was the feature on the first Saturday card of the Oaklawn season. Officials estimated attendance at 17,750 on a sunny afternoon in the high 50s. Oaklawn is not charging general admission at this meet in a new policy for 2015.

Mufajaah ($13) had just two horses beat in the early stages of the Pippin, as Honey’s Ryan broke well from the widest post and was clear through an opening quarter in 23.92 seconds and a half-mile in 47.69. Mufajaah launched a strong bid into the final turn, came five wide into the stretch, and went on to cover the distance on a track rated “fast” in 1:44.49.

Manny Esquivel was aboard for Shadwell Farm and trainer Dan Peitz.

Mufajaah won her maiden and a first-level allowance at Oaklawn last season at 3.

“She always seemed to like Oaklawn,” said Peitz. “She ran back to the races she ran here last year.”

Plans for Mufajaah are to be determined, but Peitz said he hopes to see her advance to the Bayakoa, a $100,000 race for fillies and mares Feb. 15. The race has been elevated to a Grade 3 for 2015.

Mufajaah earned $60,000 in the Pippin, which was her first stakes victory. She has earned $177,140. Mufajaah is a daughter of Tapit and was bred in Kentucky by William K. Warren and Suzanne Warren.