Santa Anita Press Release
CRYSTAL BALL FIRES BIG OFF BENCH & TAKES $63,000 SANTA ANITA ALLOWANCE BY ONE LENGTH AS BAFFERT & PRAT TEAM FOR MILE WIN IN 1:36.53
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 2, 2021)–Idle since well beaten in Saratoga’s prestigious Grade I Alabama Stakes Aug. 15, Bob Baffert’s Crystal Ball was more than ready on Friday at Santa Anita, as she stalked the pace and drew clear late for a one length tally in the day’s $63,000 allowance feature. Ridden by Flavien Prat and owned by WinStar Stablemates Racing, LLC, the 4-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon got a flat mile in 1:36.53.
With longshot Miss Fia and apprentice Jessica Pyfer darting to the early lead from the rail, Crystal Ball sat a close second to the far turn and drew within a neck a quarter mile from home. With Miss Fia running her heart out to her inside, Crystal Ball gained the advantage at the sixteenth pole and gradually drew clear.
Fifth, beaten 25 ¼ lengths by eventual Eclipse Champion Swiss Skydiver in the Alabama, but a close second two starts back in the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks on July 18, Crystal Ball was the narrow second choice at even money and paid $4.20, $2.60 and $2.10.
“Coming off a layoff, she’d been training well, but there’s nothing like a race,” said Baffert. “Now, she’s ready to get back to some stakes competition, so this will set her up nice…There’s nothing like bringing them back off a long layoff. Those fillies, they made her run hard, that was a tough race.”
. . .
Read full article here.