Amada Rafaela, a 3-year-old Distorted Humor filly, was ultra-impressive in her career bow on May 5 at Santa Anita Park, sauntering to an 8-plus length score in a sizzling 1:09.88 for six furlongs (VIDEO).
The Three Chimneys Farm homebred is the 26th lifetime TDN Rising Star for her sire, joining the likes of Any Given Saturday, Alternation, MacLean’s Music and Quip.
Amada Rafaela, trained by Bob Baffert, always looked like a winner as she was three-wide early on, then made her move for the lead with about three furlongs to run. Jockey Martin Garcia never had to ask her for her best as she easily moved away from the field and registered an official win of 8 1/4-lengths.
The winner is out of Dust and Diamonds, a $900,000 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed purchase in 2012 who won the Gallant Bloom H. (G2) and Sugar Swirl S. (G3) and finished runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
