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Although his top 3-year-old didn’t run, trainer Bob Baffert was still well in front of the competition as his Imagination, in a stirring stretch duel, outran stablemate Wine Me Up in Sunday’s $300,000 DK Horse San Felipe (G2) Santa Anita.
Imagination prevailed by a head while getting 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.55. Ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori, Imagination gave Baffert his record ninth win in the San Felipe, a traditional prep for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 6.
The race was certainly not without drama, as Scatify, ridden by Hector Berrios, broke from the rail and was in very tight quarters in behind Wine Me Up in the run to the first turn, with Berrios on the brakes as he nearly the clipped heels of both Wine Me Up and Imagination to his outside.
Untroubled, Wine Me Up held a narrow advantage turning up the backside but was immediately engaged by Imagination and the two raced as a team from the three-eighths pole to the wire, with neither giving an inch in a thriller.
Off as the 4-5 favorite in a field of four, Imagination, in his first stakes engagement, paid $3.80 for the victory
A $1,050,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, et. al, Imagination, a one-mile maiden winner at Santa Anita two starts back on Jan. 1, was most recently a close second in a one-mile allowance on Feb. 11.
With the winner’s share of $180,000, he increased his earnings to $256,800.
Wine Me Up, second to stablemate Nysos in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at one mile on Feb. 3, finished 6¾ lengths in front of Mc Vay.
Nysos was scratched from the San Felipe and will likely aim for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 6.
Fractions on the race were :23.51, :47.04, 1:11.51, and 1:37.86.
San Felipe Quotes
JOCKEYS
FRANKIE DETTORI, IMAGINATION, WINNER: “He broke out and we went to the Club House turn the guy behind me struck into me. My horse got frightened, and I took him back to get him wide to get him to relax and get him back into the race. He fought a great duel. He was full of heart.”
JUAN HERNANDEZ, WINE ME UP, SECOND: “My horse showed a lot of heart, I have no excuses today, we just got beat by a better horse. It is what it is, He beat me, but I’m really happy with my horse he showed a lot of heart, he was trying to come back. A couple more jumps and I would have gotten that horse, but he beat me today. I’m really happy with a second today.
“Frankie, said down the backside his horse got a little rank, that’s why he got close to me, but I said, ‘No problem, we are riding for the same barn.”’
TRAINER
BOB BAFFERT, IMAGINATION, WINNER : “The one horse came in on Imagination, it scared him, and he took off with him. After the horse bumped him, it took him way off the rail and slowed him down. I thought Imagination won. Last time he was in front, he got beat. At least today he showed some fight. I think he is a slow developer because of the way he’s bred. He’s not a sprinter, so I wasn’t going to bring him back that quick. He could’ve used an extra week, but you have to run these horses when you can. We’re trying to develop these horses, so it was good for both of them. Wine Me Up ran tough. It’s like watching the 49ers Super Bowl game. Unfortunately, someone has to lose, but I’m proud of them both. They both showed up. That’s all you can ask for.”
OWNER
TOM RYAN, PART OWNER, SF RACING, IMAGINATION, WINNER: “That was a great race. I didn’t know which way it went at the wire. It was a little bit of a messy race early on, he had to recollect himself. He kind of got scared, these are young 3-year-old colts, they are learning their craft. It is amazing you could have a 12-horse field and nothing, and in a four-horse field anything can happen.
“It’s good to see him have the confidence to put it back together and not back down from a fight and get there at the wire. I think there is a lot of potential in this horse. He is just learning as he goes, and I think the further the better. He is a classy colt, he’s always shown it, he looks it and thankfully his ability matches his looks.”
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