ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 2, 2020) — Bob Baffert’s brilliant 3-year-old filly Bast, a three-time Grade I stakes winner, heads a field of seven sophomore fillies going seven furlongs in Sunday’s Grade II, $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita.

Baffert is also represented by a pair of impressive first-out maiden winners, Auberge and Golden Principal, as he seeks his fifth career win in the Santa Ynez, which provides the winner with 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.  (The second place finisher will receive four points, the third place finisher two and the fourth place finisher one).
 
BAST
 
Owner: Baoma Corporation                             
Trainer: Bob Baffert

A dazzling 8 ¾ length winner of the Grade I, seven furlong Del Mar Debutante in her second start on Aug. 31, this Kentucky-bred daughter of Uncle Mo then stretched out to 1 1/16 miles to take the Grade I Chandelier Stakes here on Sept. 27 at odds of 1-5.  Third, beaten two lengths in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 1, she bounced back to dominate the Grade I, 1 1/16 miles Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos, winning by a half length over highly regarded Donna Veloce.  With Drayen Van Dyke riding her back in the Santa Ynez, she’ll no doubt be the prohibitive favorite.
 
AUBERGE
 
Owner: Speedway Stable, LLC                       
Trainer: Bob Baffert
 
A $570,000 Fasig Tipton Midatlantic 2-year-old in Training Sale purchase in May, this Iowa-bred daughter of the City Zip stallion Palace  sped to a lights-out six furlong maiden win here on Oct. 27, winning by 7 ¾ lengths under Drayden Van Dyke, who sticks with Bast.  With an 84 Beyer Speed figure in hand, Auberge, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat, could prove a menacing presence for her far more accomplished stablemate in her stakes debut.
 
GOLDEN PRINCIPAL
 
Owner: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman       
Trainer: Bob Baffert
 
A Florida-bred daughter of red hot stallion Constitution, she was purchased for $200,000 at the Ocala Breeders April 2-year-old in Training Sale.  Off at 1-2 in her six furlong bow on Nov. 30 at Del Mar, she opened up early and cruised to an impressive 1 ½ length win under Van Dyke while earning an 80 Beyer.  She’ll get the service of “Big Money” Mike Smith on Sunday and certainly rates a chance in her second start.
 
THE GRADE II SANTA YNEZ STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 8 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

1. Auberge—Flavien Prat—120
2. Golden Principal—Mike Smith—120
3. Lovely Lilia—Abel Cedillo—120
4. Paige Anne—Joe Talamo—120
5. K P Dreamin—Ruben Fuentes—120
6. Orquidias Biz—Joel Rosario—120
7. Bast—Drayen Van Dyke—124

First post time for an eight-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. Admission gates open at 10:30 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.