Maysam roared back to form at Santa Anita on Sunday, securing a hard-fought victory in the Grade III Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel Stakes. After a disappointing trip to Sunland Park, where she stumbled at the start as the heavy favorite, the Bob Baffert-trained filly made amends in style.

“It was really close,” Hernandez admitted. “We were fighting from the quarter pole to the wire, but my filly put her nose in front. She was really happy today. Last time in the Sunland Park Oaks, I think she didn’t like the track at all. She was really upset…But today she was a different filly. She was so happy today. She broke really sharp and was waiting for company. She was looking around just waiting for the competition.”

Hernandez also expressed a note of surprise, “I was feeling the outside horse (Supa Speed), she was right next to me, and I knew she was closing and wouldn’t let me go. Bob (Baffert) had this filly really strong to win the race.”

Jockey Juan Hernandez, who felt Supa Speed pressing in on the outside, knew he had a battle on his hands, but Maysam dug deep to win by a nose in a thrilling stretch duel. Breaking sharply this time, Maysam set the pace early while Supa Speed, under Flavien Prat, stalked her every move. As they hit the quarter pole, the challenge intensified top-notch, and the two fillies went stride for stride down the stretch. The victory, clocked at 1:45.62, showcased Maysam’s power despite previous setbacks. With the win, Maysam brings a tidy $98,500 in earnings for owner Michael Lund Petersen.

Baffert, absent from the track, had his longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes overseeing operations. Barnes credited adjustments made post-Sunland Park for the turnaround, ensuring Maysam was back to her best. The win secured her 25 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, keeping her in contention for the prestigious race, while Supa Speed, trying dirt for the first time, earned 12.5 points for her game effort.

With the field reduced to four after two late scratches, no-show wagering was available, but Maysam still delivered for bettors at $5.00 to win. More importantly, she proved she’s a serious contender heading into the Kentucky Oaks. Even with Baffert away, his presence was undeniable—Maysam was prepared to win, and that’s exactly what she did.

Bob Baffert’s Comeback: A legend’s return to Churchill Downs

For three long years, Churchill Downs had its gates shut on Bob Baffert. The man who sculpted champions, who owned the Kentucky Derby like a backyard playground, was forced to watch from the sidelines after Medina Spirit’s infamous disqualification, after a failed drug test. But time moves onward, and so do power players. As of July 2024, Baffert is back, the suspension lifted, and the stage is set for his redemption arc.

No one returns to the Derby scene just to make up the numbers, least of all Baffert. He’s in this to pick up right where he left off—with yet another win.

With a stable armed to the teeth, he’s already making noise. His colt, Citizen Bull, stormed to victory at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, stamping himself as a force for the Derby. He’s currently in second position in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 60 points. Not far behind, Getaway Car is revving up, showing he’s got the horsepower to be in the conversation, with 36 points. And then you have Madaket Road, who’s not too far behind Getaway Car in the standings with 31 points.

The game has changed, the field has evolved, but Baffert’s commanding presence is back where it belongs. Will he secure that 7th Derby win to break the tie and make him the trainer with the most Kentucky Derby wins? The Road to the Kentucky Derby now has a new layer of intrigue, and love him or hate him, one thing’s certain—racing is never the same when Bob Baffert is in the mix.