Pretty N Cool gets third career stakes win in CERF Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Pretty N Cool was becoming a sour filly at the beginning of the year when trainer Bob Baffert took her out of training at Santa Anita.

“I didn’t like the way she was training,” he said. “I gave her time off.”

A change of scenery and six months later, Pretty N Cool won the third stakes of her career in Wednesday’s $77,600 California Equine Retirement Foundation Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar. Ridden by Mike Smith, Pretty N Cool ($8) closed from third in a field of five to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 2-1 Enchanting Lady, giving Baffert a sweep of the exacta.

Pretty N Cool ran six furlongs in 1:09.07.

Shh She’s Ours, the 6-5 favorite, finished third after setting the early pace. She was followed by Dr. Fager’s Gal and Lucky Folie. Shh She’s Our set fractions of 21.78 seconds for an opening quarter-mile and 44.44 for a half-mile. She led by a length with a quarter-mile to go but faded to lose by two lengths.

Pretty N Cool raced on the inside until Smith guided the filly to the outside of Shh She’s Ours in the stretch.

“I didn’t know if she’d like the inside,” Baffert said. “I’ve got to give credit to Mike. He sat there and got her to finish.”

Pretty N Cool, 3, races for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. By Scat Daddy, Pretty N Cool has won 4 of 8 starts and earned $432,560. She won two Grade 2 sprints for 2-year-old fillies in 2015 – the Sorrento Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs here in August and the Matron Stakes at six furlongs at Belmont Park.

Pretty N Cool was second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante to Songbird, the champion 2-year-old filly.