Book Review (far left) battles to victory in G1 La Brea S.

Making her first start for Bob Baffert, Book Review's stirring stretch run catapulted the 3-year-old filly to victory in the $300,000 La Brea S. (G1) on opening day of the Santa Anita meet. The win marked the seventh time Baffert has won the seven furlong contest restricted to 3-year-olds, and comes on the 20th anniversary of his first win with Arches of Gold in 1992.

Facing a tough field that included prohibitive favorite and Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (G1) runner-up My Miss Aurelia, Book Review had only one horse beat in the seven-horse field for the run down the backstretch and into the turn. Coming between horses through the bend, jockey Rafael Bejarano swung the chestnut filly three wide into the stretch to take aim at leading duo of Reneesgotzip and My Miss Aurelia. With a powerful surge in the last sixteenth, Book Review forged to the front a stride or two before the wire to stop the timer in 1:22.41.

“I saw there was a lot of speed in the race and that was very good for me,” said Bejarano. “I let her do whatever she felt comfortable with. I knew she was going to come running at the end, so I just waited for the right time, and it worked.

“Mr. Baffert has been a good trainer for a long time and he always gives me a good opportunity. My business has been down a little but I’m very appreciative of what he does for me.”

“The Wests (owners Gary and Mary) wanted to see the horse run here (explaining why she was sent from the East Coast) and this race really looked like the logical spot for her,” said Baffert. “She’s a late-running sprinter. She got here, she looked great, she trained really well so we took a stab at it and it worked out.

“I’m happy. She ran great. It’s great to be here opening day. I love opening day and to win a Grade One, that’s like a Christmas gift to myself.”

The win was the first in a graded stakes for the homebred daughter of Giant's Causeway, adding to  wins in the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks and Belmont Park's Imperial Gesture S. already on her resume. She is now 5-2-1 in 10 starts, with earnings of $594,955.