Tenma gallops in Las Virgenes

Feb 02, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Baoma Corp.’s Tenma had a pace companion early in Sunday’s $92,000 Las Virgenes (G3), but the 1-5 favorite readily pulled away on the far turn and coasted home at Santa Anita. Much the best over just two rivals, the Bob Baffert filly vaulted to the top of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) points leaderboard with a total of 33 points.

Tenma was already the class of the Las Virgenes when it originally drew a field of five. The lone stakes winner in the line-up, the daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) champion Nyquist boasts victories in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Starlet (G2). She earned 10 Oaks points for that latest success at Los Alamitos, adding to her initial three points from her third in last fall’s Oak Leaf (G2). Her Sunday stroll in the Las Virgenes was worth another 20 points.

None of her rivals had the resume to pose a meaningful challenge on paper. Stablemate Cipriani was taking a class and distance test after romping in her 6 1/2-furlong debut at Santa Anita. Following the scratches of Our Moonlight and Lolo le Plume, the Michael McCarthy-trained Just as Fancy was the only entrant remaining to oppose the Baffert pair.

Just as Fancy, who was coming off a wire-to-wire maiden score at this track and one-mile trip, tried to duplicate that effort here. But Tenma was draped alongside Just as Fancy, awaiting her cue to demonstrate her superiority. Just as Fancy kept her head in front through fractions of :23.05 and :47.45, until Tenma made her move and went clear through six furlongs in 1:12.56.

The stretch run was a formality as Tenma opened up at will. Under good handling by Juan Hernandez, the dark bay galloped by 6 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:38.31.

“She broke beautiful today,” Hernandez recapped. “This filly is getting really professional. Before she was a little rank sometimes, getting out. But this time she went beautifully. She put herself in a good spot. I was outside and had a good position. I was enjoying my trip, then at the quarter pole she switched leads and kicked off to the wire.”

Cipriani, last of the trio early, passed the tiring Just as Fancy to take second (10 points) in isolation. Just as Fancy was wrapped up on once she was well beaten, and she eased across the line to pick up six points.

Tenma paid $2.40 to win, with no place or show wagering. Her scorecard stands at 5-4-0-1, $429,000.

“She actually has been maturing,” Baffert said. “Her worst race was in the Oak Leaf before the Breeders’ Cup. I didn’t feel like she was mature enough to run in the Breeders’ Cup, but now she has come a long way. Coming into this race she was looking really good. The other filly (Cipriani), she is just really green and just figuring it out. You will see a big improvement out of her.”

Tenma’s mother, the Tapit mare Amagansett, is out of multiple Group 3-placed stakes winner Twirl. Herself by European supersire Galileo, Twirl is a full sister to multiple Group 1 star Misty for Me and Ballydoyle. Misty for Me is particularly notable for producing fellow multiple Group 1 winners U S Navy Flag and Roly Poly.

Bred by celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s B. Flay Thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Tenma sold for $200,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She commanded $850,000 from her current connections as a two-year-old in training at OBS April.

Baoma Corp. is the nom de course of Susan and Charlie Chu, and Baffert spoke glowingly of the co-owners.

“They are great to train for. Charlie and Susan Chu have been great supporters of mine. They love the business. She is horse crazy and loves the business. She always wants to make sure they have a good home afterwards. She has a huge heart.”