Saturday Insights: Baffert Brings A Strong Hand Into Del Mar’s Closing Weekend

[Wandering Eyes]

3rd-DMR, 75K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 5:30 p.m.

One of two entries for trainer Bob Baffert, the New York-bred ZABO (Justify) sold to Zedan Racing for $700,000 at OBS March earlier this year from the Chester and Mary Broman consignment. The colt is the first foal out of MSW/GSP Pauseforthecause (Giant's Causeway) who earned nearly $550,000 in her career and is herself a daughter of MSW/GISP Spritely (Touch Gold). After bringing just $100,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September, Zabo impressed with a sharp quarter-mile breeze in :20.2.

Joining him to the outside is stablemate King's Road (Quality Road), a $525,000 Keeneland September grad for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. The dam is a half-sister to GSW Mrs. Danvers (Tapit) and from the family of MGSW/MGISP Teammate (A.P. Indy) and, most notably, GSW/GISP and prolific turf sire War Front (Danzig). TJCIS PPS

6th-DMR, 75K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 7:00 p.m.

Another Baffert pair gets on the main track later in the card with Into Midnight (Into Mischief) breaking from the gate under Victor Espinoza. Dam Midnight Lucky, bought as a yearling at Saratoga by Mike Pegram for $200,000, would take both the GI Acorn Stakes and the GI Humana Distaff Stakes in her racing career. The family includes GISW and $2.9m Stonestreet broodmare buy Hookedonthefeelin (Citidancer) and her progeny MGISW Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet) and GISW and sire Jimmy Creed (Distorted Humor).

Stablemate Yaqin (Nyquist), a $525,000 OBS April grad for Zedan Racing, is out of a half-sister to the late Laoban (Uncle Mo) and to the dam of Canadian champion 2-year-old colt Mr. Hustle (Declaration of War). TJCIS PPS

4th-CNL, 60K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 2:30 p.m.

Another son of Justify debuts on the grass as Marshal, a $600,000 Keeneland September purchase for Pin Oak Stud, makes the races Saturday on Colonial Downs' closing weekend. From three foals to race, dam Durga Devi (Ire), who is a half to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Wrote (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), has produced a Scandinavian champion 2-year-old colt in Downtown Leo (Speightstown) and Saudi Arabian winner Sa'aeid (Munnings). TJCIS PPS

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