Under the Stars takes Santa Ynez in graded stakes debut
ARCADIA, Calif. - In recent weeks, the 3-year-old fillies Adare Manor and Under the Stars have been workmates at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert.
Those workouts have been productive scrimmages.
Adare Manor won her third start in a maiden special weight race at a mile by 12 lengths at Santa Anita on Friday, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
On Saturday, Under the Stars won her graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs, also earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Under the Stars ($3.80) faced pressure on the backstretch from 12-1 Miss Mattie B and through the stretch from 9-2 Awake At Midnyte before winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:22.51.
Under the Stars, the morning-line favorite, was the subject of a late win bet, dropping from 2-1 as the field was being loaded in the gate to a final price of 4-5.
Under the Stars, who races for the Coolmore partnership, broke from the rail. Prat said he was unsure how the race would unfold in the opening furlong, but was confident after Under the Stars broke sharply.
“I couldn’t figure out what would happen,” Prat said. “She broke well and I used that. We had pressure on the backstretch, but it didn’t affect her.”
Miss Mattie B held a narrow advantage by a head after an opening quarter-mile in 22.26 seconds. Under the Stars led at the end of the backstretch through a half-mile in 44.95.
Awake At Midnyte, second by a nose in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 27, closed from fourth on the turn to get within a half-length of Under the Stars in the stretch.
“I thought it was a good run, Prat said. “There was heat all the way around. The one hole was not the best place, but she overcame that.”
Awake At Midnyte finished 6 1/2 lengths in front of Miss Mattie B, who was followed by Big Switch, Big Shamrock and Mimajoon.
Big Switch was beaten 13 1/4 lengths. Sent off as the 8-5 second choice, Big Switch was beaten for the first time in her third start. Big Switch won the Golden State Juvenile Fillies for statebred 2-year-olds at Del Mar on Nov. 5.
Under the Stars, by Pioneerof the Nile, has won 2 of 4 starts and has earned $170,520. The $200,500 Santa Ynez was her second appearance in a stakes, preceded by a third in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 13 while racing as a maiden.
Under the Stars was the easy winner of a maiden special weight race at six furlongs at Los Alamitos on Dec. 11 in her third start.
“Since Del Mar, I could tell she was improving,” Baffert said in the winner’s circle. “She’s getting stronger and stronger and definitely going the right way.”