Brilliant Bast Claims a Second Grade I
Exciting filly Bast (2f Uncle Mo x Laffina, by Arch) claimed her second Grade I victory when taking out the Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita on Friday.
The Bob Baffert trained daughter of Uncle Mo was a hot favorite but had to work for her win after travelling deep in the run and scored by a neck in the 1 and 1/16th mile feature, her second success at the elite level having won the Grade I Debutante Stakes at Del Mar at her previous outing.
“Down the backside she was going nice, then turning for home, John (Velasquez) was like, ‘Come on baby, we've got to go,' and she wasn't going,” said Bob Baffert.
“He thought she would respond, but I think this will get her ready for the next one.
“This is a very demanding, deep, heavy race track. Not only do you have to be really good, you have to be ready...The Chus (owners Charles and Susan) are really excited and we've been really lucky together, winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint with Drefong, so they've already had a champion. They've been great supporters of mine. I really think this race is going to move Bast up, so I feel pretty good about it. You're supposed to get tired first time two turns. But she got the job done.”
A $200,000 Keeneland November weanling, Bast was bought for $500,000 as a yearling at the Fasig Tipton Saratoga August Sale and runs for Baoma Corporation. With two wins and a second from just three starts, she has already won over $372,000 in prizemoney.
Bast is the first winner for Laffina, a half-sister to Grade II winner Manana Mclir and stakes-winners Big Sur and Charming n Lovable, the dam of Grade I winner Fault.