Maysam (inside) and Supa Speed duke it out. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Grade III, $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel Stakes
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — Thirteen days after a frustrating trip to New Mexico for the Sunland Park Oaks, Maysam made amends Sunday at Santa Anita when gamely outdueling favorite Supa Speed to win the Grade III, $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles.
With Juan Hernandez again aboard, Maysam (3-2) this time broke alertly after what trainer Bob Baffert this week called a “disastrous start” in the Sunland Park Oaks. She would wind up finishing second-to-last after the trouble as the heavy 1-9 favorite.
Following the good start Sunday, Maysam went right to the lead with Supa Speed and jockey Flavien Prat tracking her in second. It remained that way around the oval until the pair neared the quarter pole. Supa Speed ranged up to Maysam along her outside at that point and they would race in tandem all the way to the wire with Maysam gamely prevailing by nose.
“It was really close,” Hernandez said. “We were fighting from the quarter pole to the wire, but my filly put her nose in front. She was really happy today. Last time in the Sunland Park Oaks, I think she didn’t like the track at all. She was really upset…But today she was a different filly. She was so happy today. She broke really sharp and was waiting for company. She was looking around just waiting for the competition.”
For Supa Speed, trained by John Sadler, this was her first time racing on dirt. The Justify filly had previously hit the board in multiple stakes on turf and was exiting an allowance win going a mile on turf Jan. 24 at Santa Anita.
Maysam’s winning time was 1:45.62 after setting fractions of 23.45, 47.74, 1:12.31 and 1:38.88 for a mile. Howin (7-2) finished 6 ½ lengths back in third with Just as Fancy (13-1) completing the order of finish.
Baffert was not at Santa Anita Sunday. Serving in his absence was longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes.
“‘We really enjoyed her performance today,” Barnes said. “We had a little difficulty at the gate in Sunland Park, but that’s not her. We brought her back, made a few corrections and hopefully figured her out. She ran very well today.”
With the win Maysam is now 3-2-0-0 overall with $98,500 in total earning for owner Michael Lund Petersen.
The field was reduced to just four runners after Cipriani, also trained by Baffert, and longshot Hey Jessie were both scratched. As a result, the amount of Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on the line was reduced by 50 percent. Maysam earned 25 points, Supa Speed received 12.5 points, Howin collected 7 ½ points and Just as Fancy, ridden by Kyle Frey for trainer Michael McCarthy, was awarded 7 ½ points.
The scratches also resulted in no show wagering. Maysam paid $5.00 and $2.60 while Supa Speed returned $2.20.
Live racing returns Friday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 12:30 p.m. PT.
Grade III, $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel Quotes
Juan Hernandez, Maysam, Jockey Winner: “It was really close. We were fighting from the quarter pole to the wire, but my filly put her nose in front of the other filly. She was really happy today. Last time in the Sunland Park Oaks, I think she didn’t like the track at all. She was really upset. I thought we missed the break and that’s why she ran badly. But today she was a different filly. She was so happy today. She broke really sharp and was waiting for company. She was looking around just waiting for the competition.
“I was feeling the outside horse (Supa Speed), she was right next to me, and I knew she was closing and wouldn’t let me go. Bob (Baffert) had this filly really strong to win the race.”
Jimmy Barnes, Assistant Trainer, Maysam, Winner: “‘We really enjoyed her performance today. We had a little difficulty at the gate in Sunland Park, but that’s not her. We brought her back, made a few corrections and hopefully figured her out. She ran very well today.”
