Bast © Benoit Photo
Baoma Corp.’s Bast, a $500,000 yearling purchase who finished second in a maiden race in her career debut, indicated she could be a force to be reckoned with among two-year-old fillies nationally with an impressive triumph in the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Debutante Saturday.
With Drayden Van Dyke in the saddle, Bast, second choice at 5-2, rallied to the lead in upper stretch and went on to score by an eased-up eight and three-quarter lengths in the championship event of the Del Mar season for the division.
Bast, a daughter of Uncle Mo, provided trainer Bob Baffert with his eighth success in the seven-furlong Del Mar Debutante.
Inspiressa, who had defeated Bast in their maiden encounter August 11, went postward the 7-5 favorite under jockey Victor Espinoza. Although unable to cope with Bast’s stretch charge, she held on gamely to be second, a half-length in front of Comical, with Lazy Daisy another head back in fourth place in the field of eight.
Bast returned $7.60, $3.60 and $3 while earning $180,000. Inspiressa paid $3 and $2.60, while Comical returned $6.80 to show. Time for the seven furlongs on the main track was 1:23.73. Baoma Corp. is the nom de course of Charles Chu of North Andover, Mass.
DRAYDEN VAN DYKE (Bast, winner) – “I had a ton of horse all the way. She broke good and when they all rushed up there, I just took a hold and sat back. She was focused today. The addition of those blinkers helped. Good horsemanship by Bob (trainer Baffert). She was cruising at the end. Very impressive.”
VICTOR ESPINOZA (Inspiressa, second) – “Maybe her last race (Straight Maiden win on August 11) was too close. She ran great today. She’s a good one. You just watch and see.”
NORBERTO ARROYO, JR. (Comical, third) – “She gave it a good try. But her game will be two turns.”
BOB BAFFERT (Bast, winner) – “She needed the blinkers the first time, but I wanted to get a race in her before the Debutante. She came back after that race and worked so well I knew she was ready to go. The blinker is really minimal. We’ll definitely look at the (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies) and races like that down the road.”
FRACTIONS: :22.55 :44.88 1:10.57 1:23.73
The stakes win was the fourth of the meet, but first in the Debutante for rider Van Dyke. He now has 29 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the fourth of the meet, but the eighth in the Debutante by trainer Baffert. He now has 132 stakes wins at Del Mar, far and away the most by any trainer.
The winning owner is Baoma Corp, which is the nom de course for Charles Chu of N. Andover, MA.