Take Control began paying back his seven-figure purchase price with a debut win in a mile maiden at Santa Anita on December 30.  He is the first foal out of 2002 US Horse of the Year Azeri.

Take Control was last in the 8 horse field turning for home and, despite racing greenly, accelerated with a stunning sprint to win by 1.5 lengths under jockey Martin Garcia.

The A P Indy – Azeri colt was originally catalogued for the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale but owner Michael Paulson took him back home with a vendor bid of US$7.7 million.  It was the highest buy-back price in public auction history.

Paulson catalogued him again for the 2009 Keeneland April 2yo HIT Sale when Kaleem Shah was successful with a US$1.9 million bid.

Michael Paulson took another hit when he refused to sell Azeri for US$4.4 million at the Keeneland’s 2009 January Mare Sale.  He accepted half that amount when Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida paid US$2.25 million for her at the Keeneland November Sale last month.

“I didn’t think Take Control could win first time out,” trainer Bob Baffert said.  “But he really impressed me.  He was green, but he settled well and he overcame a lot of trouble.  That was a good one to get; now we’ve got our 2yo start out of the way.  He’ll run all day, and we’ll let him tell us what’s next.

“We’re not going to leave California until March because the weather’s terrible all around the country.  I think we’re seeing two stars develop here – I also thought Martin was great.  He rode him like he had ice water in his veins.”

Azeri topped the first session of the Keeneland November Sale last month when making US$2.25 million to the bid of Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida.  Like her A P Indy colt, she was passed-in when initially going under the hammer at Keeneland’s 2009 January Mare Sale.  Michael Paulson would not sell her at US $4.4 million back then but accepted half that amount last month.

After Take Control, Azeri foaled fillies Giant’s Causeway and Ghostzapper.  The 14 year-old mare is in foal to Distorted Humor.

Azeri (Jade Hunter) was bred and raced by Michael Paulson’s father Allen who died in 2000.  She has an Australian connection through her dam Zodiac Miss (Ahonoora) who was a stakes winner of the Newcastle 2yo Classic in 1992.  She was also runner-up to Clan O’Sullivan in that year’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic before being shipped Stateside.