Grade 1 winner Tenma towered over her competition on paper, in the wagering, and ultimately in the stretch as she rolled home to an easy victory in the $92,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
That competition numbered only two rivals as the field of five entrants scratched down to a field of three, although it would be hard to imagine Tenma could have been beaten with the presence of two more horses as she continues to mature for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
"I just didn't feel she was mature enough to run in the Breeders' Cup," Baffert said of the Del Mar Debutante (G1) winner. "But now, she's come a long ways, getting better and better. Coming into this race she looked really good."
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, the daughter of Nyquist pounced on Just as Fancy as soon as the gates opened and the two began a private match race as they entered the clubhouse turn. Baffert's other entrant, Cipriani, dropped eight lengths behind in the first quarter-mile.
Flavien Prat established the lead with Just as Fancy down the backstretch as the Michael McCarthy trainee set fractions of :23.05, :47.45, and 1:12.56. Tenma never let the last-out maiden winner have a breather, and quickly assumed command at Hernandez's asking with three-eighths to go.
The pace duel had no impact late as Tenma glided to the wire 6 1/2 lengths in front while completing one mile in 1:38.31. She paid $2.40 to win in a race that offered no place or show wagering. Tenma's victory brought home a fourth-straight win in the Las Virgenes for Baffert and ninth overall.
"This filly is getting really professional," Hernandez said. "Before, she was a little rank sometimes, getting out. But this time, she went beautifully."
Cipriani put together a solid rally to complete the exacta for Baffert in her second career start. Just as Fancy was another 17 3/4 lengths back in third.
Bred in Kentucky by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, Tenma was purchased by Charles and Susan Chu of Baoma for $850,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She has now earned back $369,000.
The Chu's have had several top fillies over the years, but have yet to have a starter in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Following her Sunday victory, Tenma now tops the leaderboard for the May 2 race at Churchill Downs with 33 points. Earning 20 points for the Las Virgenes, she acquired earlier points when third in the Oct. 5 Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita and her last-out victory in the Dec. 7 Starlet Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course.
The Las Virgenes offered qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale. With only three runners, the fourth and fifth-place points are vacated.
Tenma's grade 3 triumph is the second graded score for offspring of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist thus far in the early stages of the year. His 4-year-old daughter Cavalieri won the La Canada Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Jan. 19 for Baffert, Hernandez, and Speedway Stables. Nyquist stands the 2025 season for a $175,000 fee at Darley near Lexington.
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