Contested came from off the pace for a two-length victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Test for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Saratoga for trainer Bob Baffert and his favorite owner, wife Natalie. Baffert enjoyed his second win in the Test; Indian Blessing took the 2008 running.
Seventh out of the gate, Contested quickly moved into third with Ullapool setting fractions of 21.49 and 44.09 seconds. Rafael Bejarano gave Contested her cue at the top of the stretch, and she reeled in the pacesetters a furlong from the wire. The winner hit stopped the timer in 1:22.47 for seven furlongs on a “fast” track.
“My horse broke a little slow, but I knew (Gypsy Robin) and the other horse (Ullapool) were going to go to the lead,” said Bejarano. “I just tried to figure it out and get my horse in good position. When we came to the stretch the race was done. I had plenty of horse and she showed me a big kick. She didn’t stumble; she just broke a little slow. I didn’t try to rush; I just tried to get in good position. It actually benefited me because the horses on the lead were going very fast.”
Jim Barnes, assistant to winning Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, said he instructed Bejarano to let the start of the race determine where he’d place Contested.
“I said, ‘You got to play the break. If you catch a flyer, you can actually go,’” said Barnes. “‘If you get away slowly, just put her in a comfortable, clean spot,’ and he did.”
Contested improved her record to 5-1-0 in seven starts and earned $300,000 to push her bankroll to $633,754. The daughter of Ghostzapper has wins in the Grade 1 Acorn S. at Belmont and the Grade 3 Eight Belles S. at Churchill Downs in May.