La Brea Winner Back in Baffert Barn for Ty Scheumann

Washington breeder Theiline (Ty) Scheumann has returned La Brea Stakes (gr. I) winner Downthedustyroad to trainer Bob Baffert’s Santa Anita barn after buying her for $1.5 million at the Keeneland January mixed sale.

"I bought my first Thoroughbred from her – Thirty Slews," Baffert said. "She’s primarily a breeder, but she wanted to have a racehorse and have some fun."

Baffert trained Downthedustyroad for Ahmed Zayat (Zayat Stables) after buying her privately in mid-2006. The 4-year-old Arkansas-bred daughter of Storm and a Half--Fair Majesty, by Crafty Prospector, became a grade I winner during Santa Anita’s opening week when she defeated Squallacious and Balance in the La Brea. Then she was shipped to Kentucky for the sale, where agent Tim McMurry bought her for Scheumann.

"The filly just walked for a couple of weeks because of the sale, so I don’t know where I’ll run her next," Baffert said. The $300,000 Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs May 5 is a long-term goal, but Downthedustyroad is likely to get a prep at Santa Anita before then.

Scheumann bred Thirty Slews in the name of her Grousemont Farm. Thirty Slews won the 1992 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) for owners Mitch Degroot, Dutch Masters III and Mike Pegram, and he was Baffert’s first Breeders’ Cup winner. Scheumann’s other stakes winners as a breeder include Noble Nashua, Briartic Gold, and Crafty Patient. She also owns Magoo Can Do in partnership with son David Wright and Charles Swanson. Magoo Can Doo was named Washington state’s Most Improved Claimer of 2006.