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My Baby Baby upsets Mint Julep

My Baby Baby (middle) held on to clinch the Mint Julep for her first graded win (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) A week after sweeping the Aristides S. (G3) and Dogwood S. (G3), trainer Kenny McPeek was back in the Churchill Downs winner's circle following a graded stakes when Magdalena Racing's MY BABY BABY (Bernstein) turned in a 7-1 upset of Saturday's $113,900 Mint Julep H. (G3). Tracking within a few lengths of the leaders for the opening seven furlongs, the six-year-old assumed control just over a furlong out and held on gamely as Tapitsfly (Tapit) attempted to re-rally on her inside and Ravi's Song (Unbridled'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 (Giant's Causeway) 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 six 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 on 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 (Najran), the slight 2-1 favorite. She was followed under the wire by Askbut I Won'ttell (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), Abuela, Silver La Belle (Langfuhr), Sweetest Song (Unbridled's Song), close second choice Check the Label (Stormin Fever) and Vivo Per Lei (Empire Maker). Bella Medaglia (Medaglia d'Oro) 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 S. at Kentucky Downs and the 2010 Fairway Fun S. at Turfway Park -- but she also showed class placing in the editions of the Mrs. Revere S. (G2), Santa Maria H. (G2), Florida Oaks (G3) and Cardinal H. (G3). She preceded this win with a second-place effort in the Bewitch S. (G3) over 1 1/2 miles at Keeneland. Her record now stands at 30-7-8-6, $493,739.

"I'm so proud of her that she finally got that elusive graded stakes win," McPeek said of My Baby Baby, who is in foal to Curlin on a February 12 cover and will most likely be retired soon.

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 (Wavering Monarch), a half-sister to Italian juvenile highweight and Oaks d'Italia (Ity-G1) winner Dionisia (Tejano Run).

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