Santa Anita: My Miss Aurelia to start in La Brea

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Steve Asmussen and My Miss Aurelia, who comes off a second in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic.

My Miss Aurelia, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2011 who suffered her first loss when second in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic on Nov. 2, will make her next start in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, My Miss Aurelia has won 6 of 7 starts and $2,386,000, all for owners George Bolton and Stonestreet Stable. In the BC Ladies’ Classic, she finished second by 1 1/2 lengths to Royal Delta, closing from fifth in a field of eight.

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Since the Breeders’ Cup, My Miss Aurelia has had three workouts at Santa Anita, including five furlongs in 59 seconds Wednesday, the fastest of 31 recorded works at the distance.

“She came out of the work great,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Thursday.

The La Brea, run over seven furlongs, is part of the opening-day program of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

“That’s the race we’ve been pointing for,” Bolton said. “I think she’s coming into it in good shape.”

The La Brea will be My Miss Aurelia’s first start around one turn since she won the Mandy’s Gold Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga in August, her first start of 2012. In 2011, My Miss Aurelia was unbeaten in four starts, including the Adirondack Stakes for sprinters and the BC Juvenile Fillies over 1 1/16 miles.

“She’s done it both ways,” Bolton said. “She won going short in the maiden race, the Adirondack, and the comeback race.”

My Miss Aurelia was out of training in early 2012, recovering from a shin injury. After the Mandy’s Gold Stakes, she won the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing in September, a prep for the BC Ladies’ Classic.

“She’s had a light season because she had to recover from the shin,” Bolton said.