PRIVATE MISSION RETURNS TO TOP FORM AS SHE PRESSES THE PACE AND TAKES GRADE II, $200,000 SANTA MARIA STAKES BY THREE QUARTERS OF A LENGTH
RETIRED HOF JOCKEY EDDIE DELAHOUSSAYE PRESENTS THE SANTA MARIA TROPHY
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 18, 2022)–She’s back. Well beaten in her last three starts, Baoma Corp’s Private Mission broke sharply, pressed the early pace and kicked on through lane as her connections had hoped in taking Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita by three quarters of a length under leading rider Juan Hernandez, who collected his 102nd victory of the Winter/Spring Meet. Originally trained by the currently suspended Bob Baffert, Sean McCarthy handled the saddling duties today as the 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:43.46.
With Lady Mystify going to the front from her rail post under Edwin Maldonado, Private Mission sat second a length and a half back mid-way around the first turn. One length back at the half mile, Private Mission cruised up outside the pacesetter and had a one length edge straightening for home. Never threatened in the final three sixteenth of a mile, Private Mission was best on the day as recent Grade II winner Blue Stripe finished second.
“She broke really sharp and as soon as she saw Lady Mystify in front of me, she relaxed and she was just waiting for me to ask her to go,” said Hernandez, who collected his meet-leading 23rd stakes win of the meeting. “I’m really happy because I’m doing really well. I just want to thank all the owners and trainers for supporting me. I really appreciate it. I just love to win and ride horses.”
A two-time graded stakes winner last year at age three, Private Mission, who was distanced three starts back in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 6 and who was soundly beaten in a pair of sprints earlier this meet, the Grade I La Brea on Dec. 26 and the Grade III Las Flores on March 13, was nonetheless off as 7-5 favorite in a field of six fillies and mares and paid $4.80, $3.00 and $2.40.
“I watched her break and it was perfect,” said McCarthy. “Private Mission had been training great and full credit to all the crew, Jimmy (Barnes) and everyone. They have done a great job with her and she’s come along well…We passed a race up in New York to stay for this race, which ended up being the right decision…”
A $750,000 yearling purchase in 2019, Private Mission, in getting her third graded stakes win, improved her overall mark to 9-5-1-0 and with the winner’s share of $120,000, increased her earnings to $397,300.
Blue Stripe, attentive to the pace, got a pocket trip while third approaching the quarter, swung three-wide and out-gamed McCarthy’s Varda for second money under Tyler Baze. Considering the fact that Blue Stripe got quite a bit of dirt in her face throughout, she ran big race to hold Varda safe by a half length.
A winner of the Grade II Santa Margarita at a mile and one eighth on April 30, Argentine-bred Blue Stripe was the second choice at 8-5 and paid $2.80 and $2.20.
Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Varda was off at 9-1 and paid $2.80 to show while finishing 4 ½ lengths in front of Lady Mystify.
The Santa Maria trophy was presented by legendary Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye. In from Louisiana with his wife Juanita to visit family, “Eddie D.” sported a New Orleans Saints cap and received a rousing welcome from the crowd when introduced by track announcer Frank Mirahmadi.
Fractions on the race were 23.23, 46.96, 1:11.09 and 1:36.66.
