Beautiful Gift overcomes trouble to win Santa Ysabel S. (G3)

Beautiful Gift added her name to the list of this year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) favorites with a dramatic win in Sunday’s Santa Ysabel S. (G3) at Santa Anita.

Though her stablemate Kalypso had the more accomplished resume coming into Sunday’s 1 1/16-mile contest, it was Beautiful Gift who emerged victorious despite getting stopped just before the field entered the stretch. With John Velazquez aboard, Beautiful Gift sat in third just behind Kalypso and Moraz, who ran together for the first six fulrongs. When Velazquez had nowhere to go at the top of the lane, he was forced to swing wide, losing his momentum. Beautiful Gift gathered herself and ran down Moraz in the final stride, winning by a head, with Kalypso in third.

“I didn’t think Johnny was going to get there and all of a sudden (Beautiful Gift) kicked in,” said Baffert. “We gave her some time. She got really light on us. The further the better for her. I didn’t think she got there until I saw the super slow mo, but I’m just happy that they ran well, It’s nice to get these fillies, it’s all I have for the Oaks, so it’s fun.” 

Beautiful Gift earned 50 qualifying points to the April 30 Kentucky Oaks.  She had been away from the races since Oct. 23, when she broke her maiden at Santa Anita as well. She is now 2-0-1 in three starts and has earned $99,600 for the Baoma Corp.

Beautiful Gift is Baffert’s record sixth winner of the Santa Ysabel.