Apache Princess invades with strong credentials for Bear Fan

Saturday’s $75,000 Bear Fan at six furlongs for California-bred fillies and mares shapes up as one of the most competitive stakes of the year at Golden Gate Fields.

The likely favorite is 3-year-old Santa Anita invader Apache Princess, a Grade 3 winner coming off a second versus older females in the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. Apache Princess, trained by Keith Desormeaux, would be hard to deny on her best race, but she has some hurdles to overcome: She is a rail-drawn closer in a race that does not appear to have an overload of early speed, and she makes her first start on a synthetic surface.

Defending champ The Spiral Jetter comes into the race with a similar pattern that led to victory last year. She was freshened over the summer by trainer Andy Mathis, won her second start back – a one-mile allowance on the Tapeta on Sept. 27 – and comes off an even fifth in another one-mile Tapeta allowance. Last year, The Spiral Jetter won the Bear Fan off a win going a mile on turf and then an even fourth in a one-mile Tapeta allowance.

“It’s kind of eerily similar,” said Mathis, who gave the 6-year-old Don’tsellmeshort mare a three-furlong blowout for this race just as he did last year.

“I don’t know if she’s at the top of her game, but I know when you throw her out there, she’s competitive.”

Ima Happy Cat has run races good enough to win the Bear Fan and has the speed to perhaps grab a clear lead. Ima Happy Cat ran second in the five-furlong Camilla Urso on the Golden Gate turf in April and won a stakes at Emerald Downs in May. She is making her third start after a four-month layoff.

“We sent her out this summer, and I think she ate all the grass in the pasture at the farm,” trainer Dan Markle said. “She needed the first race, and in the second the ground slipped out from underneath her and she missed getting away well from the gate.”

The 3-year-old Trina also should show speed in what will be only her fourth race.

KEY CONTENDERS

Apache Princess, by Unusual Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 88-85 77

◗ Considering her ability on dirt and turf, there’s no reason to believe she will have a problem with the Tapeta. Apache Princess won the Grade 3 Sweet Life sprinting on the dirt at Santa Anita in February and missed by a neck going a mile in the Grade 2 San Clemente at Del Mar in July.

The Spiral Jetter, by Don’tsellmeshort

Last 3 Beyers: 79-80-65

◗ Like Apache Princess, she is a closer who might find herself chasing fresh horses.

Ima Happy Cat, by Smiling Tiger

Last 3 Beyers: 84-50-35

◗ She has two bullet works since her last start.