The Bob Baffert barn swept the top three spots in Sunday's $200,000 Santa Ynez S. (G2) at Santa Anita Park, with Bast prevailing by 1 3/4-lengths over Auberge, who finished 2 1/2-lengths in front of Golden Principal.

Bast, the most experienced of the group, chased Auberge and Golden Principal through a half-mile in a quick :44.59, when the Baffert runners began to separate themselves from the field. Bast, in the three path entering the stretch, was ridden hard by Drayden Van Dyke, but showed her class in the final furlong to pull away for the win and stop the timer in 1:23.42 for the seven furlongs on a fast track.

“You hate to run three in a race like that but it’s a graded race and its $200,000,” Baffert said of the trio post-race. “I want to give all my clients a chance at it. I’ve gone sort of easy on (Bast) for this race. Those are two really good fillies (Auberge and Golden Principal) that she was chasing there, as you can tell by the way they were spread out (10 lengths ahead of the fourth-place finisher). They showed up, they ran well so here we are.” 

Bast had a terrific 2-year-old campaign that included wins in three Grade 1 events: Del Mar Debutante, Chandelier S., and Starlet. Off that excellent resume, she was named an Eclipse Award finalist for 2-year-old filly honors. Sunday's win upped her earnings to $852,200 for the Baoma Corporation.