My Baby Baby takes G3 Mint Julep at Churchill

By Vance Hanson
6/11/11 8:04 PM
ESPN

A week after sweeping the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes and Dogwood Stakes, trainer Kenny McPeek was back in the Churchill Downs winner's circle following a graded stakes when My Baby Baby turned in a 7-1 upset of Saturday's Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap.

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A week after sweeping the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes and Dogwood Stakes, trainer Kenny McPeek was back in the Churchill Downs winner's circle following a graded stakes when Magdalena Racing's My Baby Baby turned in a 7-1 upset of Saturday's Grade 3, $113,900 Mint Julep Handicap. Tracking within a few lengths of the leaders for the opening 7 furlongs, the 6-year-old assumed control just over a furlong out and held on gamely as Tapitsfly attempted to re-rally on her inside and Ravi's Song surged on her outside. The winning margin was a neck over Ravi's Song with Tapitsfly a nose farther back in third. Ridden by Manoel Cruz, My Baby Baby paid $17.20, $8.20 and $5.20.

The early pace was set by Abuela with Tapitsfly keeping her honest a half-length behind through splits of :24 and :48 1/5. Tapitsfly moved ahead by a half-length after 6 furlongs in 1:12 1/5, but was passed at the top of the stretch by My Baby Baby, who had rated in third down the backside. Tapitsfly dug in gamely and came back in the final eighth despite conceding as much as 1 1/2 lengths to the eventual winner, but she could not turn the tables and was ultimately nipped for the place honors. Final time for 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf was 1:42 2/5.

Tapitsfly had a length on Snow Top Mountain, the slight 2-1 favorite. She was followed under the wire by Askbut I Won'ttell, Abuela, Silver La Belle, Sweetest Song, close second choice Check the Label and Vivo Per Lei. Bella Medaglia was scratched.

My Baby Baby has had a varied career which has seen her run everywhere from Florida to California. Her prior two stakes wins were minor ones -- the 2008 Pleasant Temper at Kentucky Downs and the 2010 Fairway Fun at Turfway Park -- but she also showed class placing in the editions of the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere, Grade 2 Santa Maria Handicap, Grade 3 Florida Oaks and Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap. She preceded this win with a second-place effort in the Bewitch Stakes over 1 1/2 miles at Keeneland. Her record now stands at 30-7-8-6, $493,739.

Bred in Kentucky by E H Beau Lane III, My Baby Baby was a $14,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling. She was produced by the unraced Sarah Darling, a half-sister to Italian juvenile highweight and Group 1 Oaks d'Italia winner Dionisia.


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