NEWS
Azeri’s first foal wins career debut
Posted: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 6:54 PM
TAKE CONTROL
Benoit & Associates photo
Take Control, the first foal out of 2002 Horse of the Year and three-time champion older female Azeri, rallied from last with a strong stretch drive to win his career debut.
Take Control was purchased for a sale-topping $1.9-million at the Keeneland April sale of selected two-year-olds in training by Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who represented owner Kaleem Shah. About seven months earlier, the colt had been bought back for $7.7-million (a world record for a buy back) at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale.
The colt raced in last through a half-mile in :48.61 before finding open space at the top of the stretch and closing well under steady left-handed urging by jockey Martin Garcia.
John G. Sikura, whose Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm had consigned the colt as agent for breeder Allen E. Paulson Living Trust, was at Santa Anita for the win. Eddie Woods, agent, consigned the colt at Keeneland April.
