Santa Anita: Las Flores likely next for Teddy's Promise

Shigeki Kikkawa

The May 4 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs is a long-term possibility for Teddy's Promise.

Teddy’s Promise, the winner of the $250,000 Santa Monica Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, is likely to have one more start at the meeting, in the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on March 10.

Trainer Ron Ellis said that Teddy’s Promise has the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November as a long-term goal. She was eighth in the2012 BC Filly and Mare Sprint. Before Saturday’s race, there were discussions between owners Ted and Judy Nichols and Ellis about retiring Teddy’s Promise.

“I think the plan is to keep her in training,” Ellis said. “We’ll space her races.”

Ellis mentioned the $300,000 Humana Distaff for fillies and mares over seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 4 as a possibility for Teddy’s Promise.

In the Santa Monica Stakes, Teddy’s Promise won by three lengths under jockey Victor Espinoza after stalking the early pace. A 5-year-old mare by Salt Lake, Teddy’s Promise has won 8 of 21 starts and $634,981.

“The last couple of race she’s relaxed for Victor,” Ellis said. “It looks like she has turned the corner.”

The Las Flores may also draw Shumoos, who won an allowance race over six furlongs last Friday. Owned by Fawzi Nass, Shumoos was second in the 2011 BC Juvenile Sprint at Churchill Downs but did not start in 2012.

“I thought she was 70 percent the other day,” trainer Ben Cecil said. “I had to find out where we were.”