Bast Proves Best in Del Mar Debutante

DEL MAR, CA – Baoma Corporation’s Bast is a maiden no more after proving to be the best in Saturday’s tough edition of the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1).

Breaking from post 5 under Drayden Van Dyke as the 5/2 second choice, Bast was naturally forwardly-placed while wearing blinkers for the first time. She soon dropped back when asked, though, and allowed the trio of Leucothea, Inspiressa, and her Bob Baffert stablemate Stellar Sound to lead. 

Watching from the catbird seat, Bast closely tracked the three co-pacesetters through fractions of :22.55 and :44.88. Midway through the far turn, Bast tipped out and swung four-wide past the front-runners as if they were standing still.

Straightening for home, Bast quickly drew off with a flurry, clearing away before crossing hand-ridden 8 3/4 lengths clear. She completed the 7-furlong sprint over the fast main track in a final time of 1:23.73.

“I had a ton of horse all the way,” Van Dyke said. “She broke good, and when they all rushed up there, I just took a hold and sat back. She was focused today. The addition of those blinkers helped. Good horsemanship by Bob. She was cruising at the end. Very impressive.”

Inspiressa, the 7/5 favorite who defeated Bast in each filly’s only prior start, drifted late and was nearly caught before hitting the wire a 1/2-length ahead of Comical, with Lazy Daisy just a head behind in fourth. Stellar Sound weakened to fifth, while behind her came Pure Xena, Powerfulattraction, and a spent Leucothea to complete the order of finish.

Bast’s win placed her record at 2-1-1-0 with $192,200 earned. The 2-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, purchased for $500,000 as a yearling, will likely point to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) as her year-end goal.

“She needed the blinkers the first time, but I wanted to get a race in her before the Debutante,” Baffert said about Bast’s debut effort. “She came back after that race and worked so well, I knew she was ready to go.”

Bast returned $7.60 to win, $3.60 to place, and $3 to show. Inspiressa brought back $3 to place and $2.60 to show, while Comical paid $6.80 to show.