INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov. 21, 2004) - No Bull Baby ran into traffic problems early, but rallied in the stretch under the guidance of Tyler Baze to win the 18th running of the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes for 2-year-old fillies by one-half length over Short Route Sunday at Hollywood Park.
No Bull Baby was blocked behind a wall of horses up the backstretch and appeared to have nowhere to go. Pacesetter Hello Lucky dropped back around the turn, however, and Short Route took over into the stretch. Baze found room to run on the outside, and No Bull Baby was able to wear down her last rival to gamely prevail at the wire.
"I was kind of babysitting her down the backside," Baze said after earning his first Moccasin victory. "She was in a really bad spot, which kind of put me in a bad spot. But when I asked her to run, she really took off.
"I'm just glad I got the privilege to ride her. She's an awesome filly. She's got a lot of talent and a big future." No Bull Baby covered the seven furlongs on the main track 1:23.06 and returned $6.40, $3.40 and $2.80 as the slight betting favorite.
Short Route held for second under Cesar DeAlba and paid $6.40 and $3.60 while She's a Jewel, ridden by Rene Douglas, finished third and paid $3.60 to show.
No Bull Baby is trained by Bob Baffert, who won the Moccasin Stakes last year with Victory U.S.A. Owned by Hal and Patti Earnhardt, she has won two from five starts and earned $106,380.
"She ran super," said Baffert's assitant, John Daley. "Bob was real confident, guaranteed Hal Earnhardt a win, and that's what happened.
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