Summertime Oaks gives Faypien chance to shine

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 3-year-old filly Faypien has often hung around with a good crowd.

She was third in her debut to Paradise Woods, who later won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks in April. In the Angels Flight Stakes on May 14, Faypien beat Noted and Quoted, who won the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes last October.

On Saturday, Faypien has a chance to join them as a graded-stakes winner around two turns in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Bob Baffert for Baoma Corp., Faypien will have her first start around two turns in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks.

The assignment is not easy. Faypien is part of a field of nine that includes Noted and Quoted and It Tiz Well, a well-beaten third in the Santa Anita Oaks.

Also in the field is Majestic Quality, second in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds in February and the decisive winner of a maiden race at 1 1/16 miles in her 10th start on May 21. Mopotism was fourth in the Santa Anita Oaks and 10th in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Selcourt has been second or third in two sprint stakes.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Faypien, by Ghostzapper

Beyers: 90-87-67

◗ Faypien, purchased for $720,000 as a 2-year-old in April 2016, won the seven-furlong Angels Flight Stakes by a half-length over Noted and Quoted, who was 1 1/4 lengths in front of Selcourt.

“She dug in there,” Baffert said of Faypien’s stretch run.

◗ After finishing third to Paradise Woods in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on March 11, Faypien won a maiden race at seven furlongs on April 23. The Summertime Oaks will be her fourth start.

◗ The Summertime Oaks did not draw the best 3-year-old fillies in the division. Abel Tasman won the Kentucky Oaks and the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park and is not in this field. Paradise Woods has not raced since finishing 11th in the Kentucky Oaks.

“This will be a good spot,” Baffert said. “There are no Abels or Paradises in there.”

It Tiz Well, by Arch

Last 3 Beyers: 85-87-84

◗ It Tiz Well was considered for the Kentucky Oaks, but owners Tom and Debby Stull and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer opted to leave the filly in California.

“At the time, we didn’t feel it was proper to run in the Kentucky Oaks,” Hollendorfer said.

◗ Off since the Santa Anita Oaks, It Tiz Well resumed workouts in mid-May and has shown a solid pattern of exercise in recent weeks, notably quick six-furlong workouts of 1:12.40 on May 31 and 1:11.40 from the gate June 7.

◗ It Tiz Well, who will wear blinkers for the first time Saturday, won the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on March 11. She is likely to be favored here.

“She’s back on track and doing well,” Hollendorfer said. “We think she’s very talented.”

Noted and Quoted, by The Factor

Last 3 Beyers: 89-62-80

◗ After failing to finish the Sunland Park Oaks in March as the 8-5 favorite, she rebounded in the Angels Flight.

◗ Noted and Quoted is likely to race near the front, the style she used to win the Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

◗ She was seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita last November.