- Home
- DRF Bets
- Handicapping & PPsHorsemen's ProductsReports
- The Wizard
- DRF Gameplan
- Quick Sheets
- DRF Picks
- Today's Racing Digest
- Key Race Report
- Positive ROI Report
- Moss Pace Figure Reports
- Debut Reports
- BreezeFigs
Access past performances- DRF EasyForm PPs
- DRF Classic PDF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF HarnessEye PPs
- DRF Daily Harness Program PPs
- Daily Racing Program PPs
Racing and Wagering InformationToolsHorse Racing Links- Race Tracks
- Casinos
- Account Wagering
- Breeding
- Racing and Charitable
- Contests/Games
- Regional/Free
- Radio Shows
Get the most out of
DRF's online PPs with
Learn more. - Entries
- Results
- NewsCategoriesTrack ReportsTriple Crown Special Events
Exclusive content available only with a DRF Plus Plan. See Plan Pricing. - Blogs
- Video
- Learn
- StorePast Performances
- Compare all DRF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF Classic PPs
- DRF EasyForm PPs
- Daily Racing Program PPs
- See all Pricing/Plans
REPORTS PICKS Harness PPs - Events
- Breeding
Email
ARCADIA, Calif. – One race later than hoped, a 3-year-old trained by Doug O’Neill led throughout to win a stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Goldencents set a quick pace in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes and faded to finish fourth. In the next race, Birdlover ($22.80) set a modest pace and held off 8-1 Magnificent Shirl to win the $77,870 China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf.
“We were hoping to get an easy lead in the seventh race,” O’Neill said, referring to the San Felipe.
Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Birdlover won by 1 1/2 lengths, running a mile in 1:35.23. Magnificent Shirl finished a half-length in front of 99-1 Akiss Forarose. Flashy Ways was fourth, followed by Sarach, Wittgenstein, Ciao Bella Luna, Sky High Gal, Pussycat Lips, Seolan, Awe Golly Molly, and Secret Motive in the field of 12.
Birdlover set fractions of 23.09 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.75 for the half-mile, holding an advantage of a length. She led by that margin on the turn and was not seriously challenged through the stretch.
“She got easy fractions and had enough to hold on,” O’Neill said.
Birdlover, a British-bred filly by Byron, races for a partnership. A winner of 2 of 7 starts and $84,781, she was fourth in the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park in her American debut last November. In two subsequent starts at this meeting, she ran second in both an optional claimer and an allowance race.
Best Bets
DRINK OR SINK went too fast on the lead last time before fading on the turf at Tampa, and should be less aggressive here with blinkers off. Olguin was aboard for his good fall races on the Poly, and should have him closing at a square price in his second start of the year. GOOD BETTER BEST finished up the track behind two next-out winners when he tried the dirt for the first time March 30 at Gulfstream. He hasn't faced this easy a field in a while, and is no stranger to filling out the exactor.
