Baffert vs. McCarthy in Santa Ysabel
Updated: March 4, 2021 at 11:20 pm
Sunday's five-horse GIII Santa Ysabel S. features runners from just two barns, with Hall of Famer Bob Baffert represented by three fillies and Mike McCarthy saddling the other two. Baffert-trained Kalypso (Brody's Cause) stands out on speed figures, and boasts a two-back victory in the GII Santa Ynez S. sprinting here Jan. 3. Also a winner of the six-panel Anoakia S. here last October, the $240,000 Fasig-Tipton July buy was last seen finishing second as a front-running favorite in the one-mile GIII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 6. Baoma Corp. homebred Beautiful Gift (Medaglia d'Oro) was third, one spot behind Kalypso, in a Del Mar maiden special weight in September. She's been off since breaking through over track and trip Oct. 23. Heels Up (Twirling Candy) most recently finished third in Del Mar's Desi Arnaz S. sprinting in November.
McCarthy pupil Moraz (Empire Maker) aired by 11 lengths over this strip at second asking Jan. 8, and was one spot behind Kalypso in the Las Virgenes. A Real Hero (Exaggerator) adds blinkers off a third-out Golden Gate graduation going two turns Feb. 15.