Baltas running three in China Doll Stakes

Lucky Girl was the surprise 6-1 winner of the $80,300 Lady of Shamrock Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 30. There was no surprise when Sterling Crest won a maiden special weight on turf as the favorite on Feb. 12, only that she did so as quickly as she did.

Those are two of three runners trained by Richard Baltas in Sunday’s $100,000 China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf. The stable also runs Gold Dragon Queen, who was third in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes.

“I think they’re all talented,” Baltas said. “I should be okay with one of them.”

Actually, a Baltas exacta in the eight-runner China Doll or having two in the first three would not be a surprise. Their main foes are Island of Love, second as the odds-on favorite in her American debut in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes, and Urban, who closed well to be second by a head in the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Feb. 12.

The China Doll will be the 2022 stakes debut for Sterling Crest, who earned an attractive 86 Beyer Speed Figure with the win in a one-mile race on Feb. 12. Sterling Crest stalked the pace under jockey Umberto Rispoli and prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths.

:: For the first time ever, our premium past performances are free! Get free Formulator now!

“She was tracking a hot pace,” Baltas said.

Lucky Girl closed from last in a field of six to win the Lady of Shamrock Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths.

“It was all about her getting to settle,” Baltas said. “She has a good turn of foot. When I ran her the first couple of times, she was rank.”

Gold Dragon Queen, a maiden race winner at 26-1 in December, had her stakes debut in the Lady of Shamrock and was beaten 4 1/4 lengths.

Island of Love was a minor stakes winner in Italy last year in her second start and final race in that country. In the Lady of Shamrock, she overcame a troubled start to stalk the pace but could not catch Lucky Girl in the final furlong. Leading rider Flavien Prat has the mount on Sunday.

“I like how she has come around after her initial start,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “She has taken a step forward in her training. It’s her second time around two turns. Flavien Prat. I think all these things are plusses.

“Everything about her is stronger. She breezed stronger and has more energy and is a very happy and willing filly.”