The hugs in the winner’s circle after Private mission won Santa Maria Stakes (G2) June 18 at Santa Anita especially warm because coach Sean McCarthy and his wife, Kim, have reconnected with Walk of Fame coach Eddie Delahoussaye and his wife, Juanita.
The Delahoussayes, who now live in Louisiana, visited California, and Eddie presented the Santa Maria trophy.
“I’ve known Eddie since I came down here,” McCarthy said. “I was never able to get him on a good horse. He rode a few for me.”
Delahoussaye mused: “Then when he played well, I retired.”
Lead driver Juan Hernandez had to drive this fine, Private Mission, previously trained by Bob Baffert, who is currently serving a suspension. McCarthy said a race was passed in New York to wait for the Santa Maria 1 1/16-mile, $205,500, and bets made Private Mission a 7-5 favorite in the field. six-person area.
When the gate opened, Hernandez and the Private Quest went away and watched the pacesetter Lady Mystify .
McCarthy said: “She broke perfectly. “She never missed a step when she got out of there and got out of there as best she could. When I saw that, you have to anticipate that Juan probably wouldn’t have any trouble getting there. he needs.”
Mrs. Mystify said “reasonable fractions,” said McCarthy, running a quarter mile in: 23.23 and a half mile in: 46.96.
“We’re sitting in the perfect spot,” McCarthy said. “Then it’s just a matter of whether we’re good enough.”
Private quests are certainly good enough. She moved outside Lady Mystify on the second turn to take the lead, which she held steady throughout the stretch. Blue Stripe April 30 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) winner and half-sister to 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Blue Award closed, as did Varda another former Baffert intern now with McCarthy.
Hernandez said: “She broke really sharp, and as soon as she saw Lady Mystify in front of me, she relaxed. “She’s just waiting for me to ask her out.”
Private Mission beat Blue Stripe and chariot driver Tyler Baze by 3/4 of the time in 1:43.46. Varda, driven by Drayden Van Dyke, finished another half-length in third.
“It’s great to see Varda move well in the fifth and sixteenth post, and it looks like Drayden can be loaded there and then those two can kick down the lane,” McCarthy said. “But she ran a brave race to finish third.”
Charlie and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp. own Quest and Varda. Under Baoma’s name, they purchased Private Mission for $750,000 in 2019 from Lane’s End consignment at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s choice of year sale in New York, and Varda for 700,000 dollars at the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale 2020 Sale Company ‘2. age in Training from consignment Niall Brennan.
Under Baffert’s guidance, Private Mission acquired the 2021 Torrey Pines Shares (G3) in Del Mar and Zenyatta Stakes (G2) in Santa Anita. Out of Breeders’ Cup Distaff and La Brea Stakes (G1), she finished second of six Las Flores Stakes (G3) teams March 13 in her only start this year against Santa Maria.
MT. Brilliant Broodmares I created Private Mission in Kentucky. A 4 year old child can Into Mischief out of winnings No restraint mare Private gift . Separate mission is the winner’s half-sister Someone’s Secret deposit Profetiza and Gift List dam of 2019 winners Alabama Stakes (G1) Dunbar . Road .
Video: Santa Maria S. (G2)
