Zedan Racing’s $1.8 million 2-year-old purchase NOONI got off to a perfect start Thursday with a debut Maiden Special Weight victory at Santa Anita to be named a Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star.

Trained by Bob Baffert and registering multiple bullets before her debut, the filly came into the race ready to run in Saturday’s five-furlong event. She was keen to get her career started and broke strongly to head straight to the lead. No one was willing to go with her on the front end and she happily built up her margin throughout the run.

Jockey Juan Hernandez had an easy time of it in the stretch with Nooni racing away to a 9 ½ length victory as the heavy race favorite.

Part of an exciting group of juveniles purchased at this year’s sale, Nooni set the quarter-mile breeze record at OBS earlier this year when stopping the clock in :20.1. She was by far the most expensive purchase of the sale when bringing $300,0000 more than the second most expensive horse.

“She is a cool filly,” Donato Lanni said after purchasing her. “Every time I saw her, she was out of her stall. She just took it all in stride. She was easy to like. We always come to the sales and look at horses by sires that are a bit obscure or haven’t had a runner yet. What’s great is that you never know where the good ones will come from.”

Zedan has seen five of its seven runners this year visit the winner’s circle, including this year’s Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Muth.