ARCADIA, CA – Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen’s Kalypso played a master tune on the front end, soundly defeating her fellow juvenile fillies in Sunday’s $75,000 Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Kalypso was the 9/2 third choice in the field of five as she broke from the rail under Abel Cedillo and went straight to the front.
With fellow Bob Baffert trainee giving closest early chase, Kalypso ticked off opening fractions of :22.17 and :45.14.
Inching away as she straightened for home, Kalypso drew off in the stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths, completing the 6-furlong fast dirt sprint in 1:10.30.
Credit: Ernie Belmonte
“When you ride for Bob, he just says, ‘Break well and play the break,’” Cedillo said. “I knew she had speed, so she broke really sharp and I just took that. She finished really strong and she galloped out really strong, too. I think she did it pretty well.”
The 6/5 favorite Queengol failed to threaten the winner after making a three-wide move in the far turn, though she did outkick Illumination by a 1/2-length.
Forest Caraway and Needless to Say completed the order of finish.
Kalypso’s win was the first of her career and followed a third-place debut and a runner-up effort last time out, both 5 1/2-furlong sprints at Del Mar. The Brody’s Cause filly, purchased for $240,000 as a yearling, has now earned $64,100.
“We’ve been wanting to run her long, but we couldn’t get a race to go,” Baffert said. “She got sick after Del Mar, so we took our time with her. She’s been training well and she’s changed a lot. We’ll stretch her out next time.”
Kalypso returned $11.60 to win, $4.60 to place, and $2.80 to show. Queengol brought back $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show, while Illumination paid $2.80 to show.
