Ten Meropa storms home in Baldwin

Ten Meropa was slowly away, but finished like a freight train to capture the Baldwin (Benoit Photo)

A & R Stables, LLC and Class Racing Stable’s TEN MEROPA (Johannesburg) drove
to the front in the stretch and held off 2-1 favorite Sky Cape (Najran) by 1 1/4
lengths in taking the $110,050
Baldwin S. (G3) on the firm turf at Santa Anita
on Sunday. Trained by Ral Ayers who is deputizing for the suspended Jeff
Mullins, the sophomore colt had no speed out of the gate and was next-to-last
after the opening half-mile in :43 3/5, but he responded in a big way late beneath Tyler Baze to capture his U.S. debut. The colt finished the about 6 1/2 furlongs
down the hill in 1:13, and paid $27, $10.40 and $5 at 12-1.

“He’s been working unbelievable since he got to this country,” Baze said. “He
broke slow, and I actually expected that because a lot of times that’s what they
do first time out here. He’s got an awesome kick, and the fast pace helped us.”

Sky Cape bid between foes in the lane but had no chance with the streaking
winner, finishing a clear second in a solid effort. The runner-up
paid $3.80 and $2.60 while completing the $43.80 exacta ($1). D. Double You
(Lion Hearted), the 7-2 third choice, bid along the rail late but never had a
chance with the top duo, gaining third by a nose. The Maryland-bred was worth
$2.80 and capped the $198.90 trifecta ($1). Nevada Worrier (Lord Carson) was
next at nearly 18-1 and sat on the bottom of the $1,144.10 superfecta ($1)
(1-5-3-4). Returning (Forest Wildcat) was fifth, followed by Doc on the Rock
(Snow Ridge); 5-2 second choice Sea of Pleasure (Sea of Secrets), who led into the
stretch only to be empty late; and Italian Rules (Tribal Rule), who was pulled
up prior to the finish but walked off the track under his own courage.