Despite a hard start to the year with losses in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, legendary trainer Bob Baffert has finally managed to score a win with Seismic Beauty at the Santa Margarita Stakes for fillies and mares.

Taking charge of the 1 1/8 mile race and scoring the fastest record in 13 years Seismic Beauty was tailed by her stablemate and Baffert’s second 4 year old fillies in the runnings, Splendora. This win marks a big one for Baffert, not only because it follows two unfortunate losses in the first two races of the Triple Crown Series (curse the assignment of post 1!) but also because it means that Baffert is now tied with the two previous record holders for the most wins of the Santa Margarita Stakes.

Though Baffert is mostly known for his stellar work with colts, having bagged 15 (some reports state 17, hence the count is debatable) Triple Crown races with these horses, he’s now making a name for himself in the world of fillies and mares. The Santa Margarita stakes which award a $200,000 award to the winning filly or mare. And Seismic Beauty made her speed felt this year, with even Bob Baffert commenting on her record time saying, “That time, woah. That’s serious racehorse time.” 

Baffert is able to gloat and breath easy now knowing he is in the company of John Shirreffs and Ron McAnally who currently hold the record for most Santa Margarita wins with five total. Baffert had also won the title the two years prior with Adare Manor, so if he can manage another consecutive win, he’ll have a whole other race on his record books!

Why the Santa Margarita win is a turn around for Bob Baffert

Bob Baffert’s usual luck with colts hasn’t yet poured down upon him this year, at least not at the Triple Crown races which are usually all Bob’s and Bob’s alone. But whether it was due to unlucky post assignments or the constantly fluctuating weather conditions, or–with regard to the Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby specifically–an unprepared return after a three year ban, neither Baffert nor his horses were able to shine in the Triple Crowns…yet, there’s one left.

Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby return this year was a big one, considering he was banned from the course for three years following a positive result on a banned substances test on Medina Spirit, the winner of the 2021 Derby. However, though Baffert originally had two horses racing, Citizen Bull and Rodriguez, due to a Rodriguez was pulled out on account of a leg injury and it was only Citizen Bull who ended up racing from the 1st post and placing 15th amongst the horses.

Baffert was unlucky again with the post positions for Preakness, with another one of his horses also being allotted the innermost post for this race. Goal Oriented ended up placing fourth, so better than Citizen Bull, but still not a win, and for Baffert that was a pretty big blow.

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Now, while Baffert has another shot at the triple crown title with Rodriguez back in shape to race for the Belmont Stakes on June 7th, this recent Santa Margarita win will definitely help morale. And for the record, Seismic Beauty raced out of the 12th post!