Memorial Day stakes double for Baffert at Lone Star Park
Bob Baffert has made a habit of winning stakes at Lone Star Park over the years, taking an incredible 16 added-money events with just 33 starters. On the 2010 Lone Star “Million Day” card, Baffert was at it again, with Bonnie Blue Flag easily winning the $100,000 Cinemine S. and Mother Ruth romping in the $75,000 Valid Expectation. Million Day is the richest of the meet at the Grand Prairie, TX track, with seven stakes worth over $1 million.
Bonnie Blue Flag made short work of her 10 foes in the Cinemine, a seven-furlong race restricted to 3-year-old fillies. Sent off the 6-5 favorite, Bonnie Blue Flag was seventh after a quarter-mile, but swept four wide under Martin Garcia to get the lead coming into the stretch. She was much the best after that, drawing off to win by 6 1/2-lengths over a fast track in 1:22 3/5.
The Cinemine marked the stakes debut for the daughter of Mineshaft, who has won her last three starts. She is now 3-1-2 in seven starts, amassing $134,020. She is owned by Peachtree Stable. Out of the Dixieland Band mare Tap Your Feet, Bonnie Blue Flag is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning filly Diamondrella (GB).
Mother Ruth won the Valid Expectation by a similar margin, exploding in the lane to draw off to a seven length score for her first career stakes victory. She was also ridden by Martin Garcia. Mother Ruth stopped the clock at 1:08 4/5 in the six-furlong race for older fillies and mares.
The dark bay or brown 4-year-old filly has been a model of consistency in her career, with a 4-3-1 record in nine starts. She has earned $164,670 for Zayat Stables, who purchased her at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling sale for $425,000.
Mother Ruth is by Speightstown out of the top-class mare Seven Four Seven, a four-time stakes winner who bankrolled in excess of $400,000.