The Factor gave champion USA trainer Bob Baffert a Group 1 finish to 2011 in the Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Boxing Day.

The War Front colt cruised to a decisive three length victory in the Malibu but Baffert still had an ace up his sleeve before year’s end.

The Hall of Famer produced Princess Arabella at Santa Anita last Saturday, December 31 and she looked extra special on debut over 1200m.  The Kentucky bred filly won by three lengths clocking a quick 68.40s.

Princess Arabella (2f Any Given Saturday – Tortuga Lady by Thunder Gulch) is raced by South Carolina owner John Fort who races as Peachtree Stable.  “I knew she was capable of that,” Baffert said.  “She was off slow but I thought she would win at the half-mile.”

Baffert finished 2011 in third place on the national trainers’ premiership with 130 winners of $14.10 million.  Todd Pletcher took the title with 254 wins and $17.20 million ahead of Steve Asmussen with 348 wins and $16.30 million in earnings.

Princess Arabella is by Darley shuttler Any Given Saturday who sired 9 winners among his first northern crop of two year-olds.  Baffert’s filly is a half-sister to Monmouth Park stakes winner Dyna’s Lassie (Dynaformer).

Any Given Saturday (Distorted Humor) was a G1 winner of the Haskell Invitational defeating Curlin and he shuttles from Darley Kentucky to its Victorian base at Northwood Park.  His first Australian runners are new season two year-olds.

Yarradale Stud will offer the first Australian yearling from Any Given Saturday’s second crop at the 2012 Perth Magic Millions on February 15.  Catalogued as Lot 283, the colt from Marscay mare Avonmore is from the immediate family of the Bob Peters owned G1 winners Miss Margaret and Dreamaway.

There are three Any Given Saturday colts catalogued for the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale starting on February 27.  First to parade will be Lot 294, the Salamander Park half-brother to G2 Sandown Guineas winner So Swift (Barely A Moment).