Earlier this year, Eddie Woods sold a memorable sale topper – the coveted 2-year-old colt out of the champion racemare Azeri that was named Vallenzeri at the time he fetched $1.9 million at the Keeneland April Sale.

Now named Take Control after purchasing owner Kaleem Shah renamed him, the regally-bred chestnut colt made a triumphant debut at the races on Dec. 30th, rallying from last with a powerful stretch run to win going away by 1 ½ lengths in a $45,000 maiden special weight at Santa Anita.

By A.P. Indy out of the brilliant daughter of Jade Hunter, Take Control displayed his genetic promise in the one-mile race, stopping the clock in 1:37.64 over the local all-weather track. It marked the beginning of what figures to be an exciting up-and-coming sophomore campaign for the colt and his connections. He is trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who purchased the colt for Shah at Keeneland. Take Control was sold by the ownership group of the Paulson Trust from the Woods consignment.