Private Mission passes two-turn test with blowout Torrey Pines victory
DEL MAR, Calif. - Private Mission made the successful transition to two turns with an easy win in her graded stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar.
Ridden for the first time by leading jockey Flavien Prat, Private Mission ($4) stalked pacesetter Lady Mistify to the turn before pulling away for a decisive victory by 6 1/2 lengths over 9-1 I’m So Anna, a three-time stakes winner.
Private Mission ran a mile on dirt in 1:37.89 in the $101,000 race and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
“She was quite aggressive,” Prat said. “I was trying to give her a breather on the turn. She was pulling quite hard the first part.”
Lady Mistify (6-1) led through fractions of 22.28 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.71 for a half-mile, but faded in the final three furlongs. Forest Caraway, the 8-5 second choice, closed steadily to finish third, beaten 14 1/4 lengths.
Private Mission has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $136,800 for Baoma Corp and trainer Bob Baffert. She was purchased as a yearling for $750,000.
Private Mission won her debut at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita last October and was a well-beaten fourth at 1-2 in her stakes debut in the Desi Arnaz Stakes here last November.
By Into Mischief, Private Mission won her 2021 debut in an allowance race at six furlongs at Santa Anita on June 12.
“We’ve been wanting to try her two turns,” Baffert said. “She won with plenty left.”