Eda digs in to win the Starlet S. (G1)

Eda’s game victory in the $300,000 Starlet S. on Dec. 4 at Los Alamitos gave Bob Baffert his fifth straight win in the Grade 1 race for 2-year-old fillies and a record-tying eighth overall win in the race that was run at Hollywood Park prior to 2014 .

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Eda battled with Benedict Canyon for the top spot through the first six furlongs, which went in 1:13.26. Eda took over at the top of the long stretch, but Tonito’s came between horses to take the lead with a furlong to go. Eda would not let up and re-rallied to surge ahead in the final strides, winning by a half-length in 1:44.74 for the 1 1/16-miles on a fast track (WATCH RACE).

“She rated off well and you never know how they’re going to do going long until you try,” Baffert said. “She relaxed well, but turning for home, I wasn’t sure. Juan said she really dug in when she was challenged and didn’t want to lose.”

Eda had never raced past 6 ½-furlongs in her five starts prior to the Starlet, which included wins in the Desi Arnaz S. and Anoakia S.

The bay filly is owned by the Baoma Corp., who also own Baffert’s 2020 (Varda) and 2019 (Bast) Starlet winners. Saturday’s win upped her earnings to $370,000.