Horses to Watch: Faiza Headed to Stakes Ranks

Del Mar – November 15, 2022

By Turfdom

SPYCATCHER (November 11) Three year old colt for Mark Glatt is still a maiden but he is all race horse, as he ran a very game third in the Let It Ride stakes on opening day. Off at 6/1 in a field of 9, he made the running right from the get go and tracked the leader down the back side in very slow fractions of 23.88 and 49.74 for the half. Turning for home he went for the lead, but the stretch runners were coming and he gamely dug in and held on for third, beaten only ¾ of a length at the wire. Glatt has only tried this Kentucky bred in two maiden races out of five starts, but he is graded stakes placed and the barn has loads of options with him. Look for Glatt to find the right spot soon for his diploma.

• THEBESTISYETTOBE (November 12) Two year old Irish bred filly in the Phil D’Amato barn ran too good to lose in Saturday’s third, but lose she did. Off as the co-choice in the wagering at 2/1 in a field of 7 in this first allowance condition at a mile on the turf, she sat third down the back side and relaxed nicely for Flavien Prat just two lengths off the pace. Prat swung her to the outside at the top of the lane and she closed boldly out in the middle of the course, but another got first jump on her, and the other favorite in the race was dead game to the wire. “Thebest” came up a neck short at the wire but it was a strong race for both of them. D’Amato does terrific with these Irish bred imports and she looks like stakes material down the road. She’s a soon winner for the top turf trainer on the circuit.  
• FAIZA (November 12) Two year old filly for Bob Baffert was no secret in her debut, as she was bet heavy right from the start and ended up going off at 4/5. She broke running from the 7 hole in this six furlong dash for juvenile maiden fillies and she blitzed through the first quarter with another runner in 21.92. After going through the half in 44.76, she shut the door on the field with a final quarter in 24.52 winning off by five while geared down the final 50 yards. This daughter of Girvin is a runner and next stop will be a stakes engagement on this circuit.
• PAULLIAC (November 12) Another Irish import for D’Amato, this two year old colt made his U.S. debut on Saturday in a maiden special weight at a mile on the turf. Off at 4/1 in a full field of 12 and with Prat in the irons, he “dwelt” at the start and quickly gave away 3 lengths to the field. Prat took him directly over to the rail to save ground and he stayed on the fence until the top of the stretch. He found a seam then, swung him to the outside, and he finished with good courage on the outside to miss to his stable mate by a head at the wire. He ran the final ¼ in a good 23.30. After going 0/6 in Ireland against better horses, he’s ready to win for the red hot D’Amato barn.
• DENIM IN GOLD (November 13) Three year old filly for Adam Kitchingman made her debut on Sunday in a maiden special weight at 5/8 on the turf, 3 and up for fillies/mares. Off at 8/1 in a field of 9, she missed the start right at the beginning and was 8 lengths off the pace down the back side and in last. She made a huge move at the 3/8 pole, went five wide around horses, was forced even wider down the lane, but finished strong and was nosed out of 2^nd. This filly can run some and the break cost her dearly. She’s bred to go long and she’s a soon winner for a very underrated barn.