Forced Entry gives Baffert sixth straight Santa Ysabel S. (G3) win

Forced Entry, who was making her stakes debut following a dazzling maiden win, earned her first stakes victory in Sunday’s Santa Ysabel S. (G3). The 3-year-old filly also picked up her first 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, tying her for the third spot. Stablemate Explora currently tops the list with 95.

“It’s nice this time of year when you have nice fillies and you are thinking Kentucky Oaks,” trainer Bob Baffert said after capturing a record 11^th Santa Ysabel, including the last six in a row.

Forced Entry’s stablemate French Blue was quickest out of the gate, leading the field through a half-mile of :47.57, with Forced Entry stalking patiently while in the three-path. Around the final turn, Forced Entry steadily gained on the pacesetter, going by her after passing the quarter-pole. She edged clear from there, comfortably holding off the late charge of Bank Shot to win by two lengths. French Blue was a clear third.

“The heavy favorite [Super Corredora] she didn’t break, she missed the break completely and that just changed the whole race in general,” Baffert said. “After that happened, French Blue, she was just out there cruising. She is still a really nice filly. But Forced Entry, she has been training really well. She had been training with Crude Velocity, who won yesterday. It’s nice when you have other nice horses to work with and keep them fit. I’m proud of the way they ran.”

Forced Entry has won two of three starts and earned $102,500 for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. Forced Entry is by Charlatan, who Baffert trained to win the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Malibu S. (G1).