Mubtaahij made his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a winning one when he charged to a one-and-a-half length victory in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita.
It was the first G1 victory for the son of Dubawi, who earned an automatic berth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic since the race is a part of the ‘Win and You’re In’ series sponsored by the Breeders’ Cup.
Settled in fourth behind the frontrunning Midnight Storm through the early stages of the race, Mubtaahij moved three-wide around the turn to challenge for the lead. Even though he raced on his wrong lead through the stretch, Mubtaahij eventually pulled away nearing the wire to win easily.
Bred in Ireland by Dunmore Stud Ltd., Mubtaahij is out of the Pennekamp mare, Pennegale, and is a half-brother to European Champion Lily Of The Valley, winner of the G1 Prix de l’Opera.
Dubawi has now sired no fewer than 25 individual Black Type winners this year. Other 2017 G1 winners sired by Dubawi include Almanaar, Bateel, Sobetsu and Zarak (who lines up in this Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe).
