Photograph: Lindsay Affleck/Eclipse Sportswire
compelled entry He set the tempo in Sunday’s G3, entered the straight and took management, profitable by 1 3/4 lengths and incomes $100,000 in prize cash. St. Elizabeth S He earned 50 factors to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita, incomes him a ticket to Churchill Downs on Could 1st.
Juan Hernandez rode coach Bob Baffert’s 5-2 co-favorite within the two-corner, 1 1/16-mile race of seven 3-year-old fillies, scoring factors on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.
Compelled Entry is owned by Mike Pegram, Carl Watson and Paul Wightman’s ‘Three Amigos’, who additionally campaigned Explorer, who is taken into account one of many high 3-year-old fillies within the nation.
“It is excellent to have a filly like that,” Baffert mentioned.
Baffert-trained French Blue (5-2), who made his two-turn debut with a six-furlong first-come-first-first dash win at Santa Anita on Jan. 8, was led by jockey Florent Geroux and clocked instances of 23.34, 47.57, and 1:12.18 over six furlongs. As soon as the pressure entry settled into the mid-pack, Bankshot (22-1) chased second place alongside the rail.
“I broke higher than anybody,” Hernandez mentioned. “However Bob was working off the tempo to see if she may deal with this mare and he or she was in fairly fine condition within the morning. I may see the horse inside (French Blue) desirous to go, so I simply mentioned, ‘Okay, let’s go.’ We will work off the tempo like they taught her within the morning.”
Coming into flip two, Hernandez moved his compelled entry to the skin to create extra operating room and progressively closed in on the pacesetter. The daughter of the maiden stallion Charlatan lined up evenly with French Blue on the entrance of the straight and edged out her rivals with a mile time of 1 minute 38.00 seconds, ending the 1 1/16 mile in 1 minute 44.79 seconds on the quick dwelling subject.
Bankshot, who completed third within the Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) on February 8, continued to place up a robust battle and overtook French Blue to take second place. He was ridden by Adrian Escobedo, skilled by Ryan Hanson. French Blue remained in third place, adopted by Piney Woods (7-1) and Sea Drew (14-1).
The reigning champion 2-year-old filly Tremendous Corredora (8 wins, 5 losses), skilled by John Sadler, was the favourite within the race, however her poor efficiency stored her out of bother and he or she completed in sixth place. My Love Caroline (25-1) checked among the many runners on the 3/8 pole, backed up and eased by means of the lane.
“She was the massive favourite and did not break. She fully missed the break. That simply modified the entire race total,” Baffert mentioned. “After that occurred, French Blue, she was simply out cruising. She’s nonetheless a extremely good filly. However Fourth Entry, she’s been coaching rather well. She was coaching with Crude Velocity, who gained yesterday. It is nice to work with different nice horses and maintain them wholesome. I am happy with how they’ve run.”
Baffert debuted the six-furlong compelled entry on January eleventh. She set the tempo for a half-mile earlier than fading by the tip within the 10-horse subject. He then switched to filth and elevated his distance to 1 1/16 miles, racing the maidens at Santa Anita on February 1st.
“It is nice to have such nice fillies this time of 12 months and to be fascinated with the Kentucky Oaks,” Baffert mentioned. “It is good for Charlatan. He is been an excellent horse and now he is lastly (bringing) out. We have lots of handsome Charlatans, so it is a massive day for Charlatan.”
Compelled entry was paid $7.60, $5.00, and $3.80. Financial institution pictures returned $11.40 and $6.00. French Blue paid a screening charge of $3.60.
Compelled Entry, out of the stakes-winning mare Violent Occasions, was bought by Three Amigos on the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $375,000.
