Birdatthewire looks formidable in Santa Maria Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – Birdatthewire was racing in last place in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 when jockey Mike Smith learned of her ability.
“It was my first time on her, and I was surprised she had such a great turn of foot,” Smith said on Thursday. “She got into the race very fast.”
The rally led to a win in the seven-furlong La Brea Stakes. Smith will ride Birdatthewire for the second time in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Birdatthewire, who races for the Forum Racing IV partnership and trainer Tom Proctor, was a troubled second in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes on Jan. 16 when ridden by Drayden Van Dyke.
The La Brea and La Canada results make Birdatthewire the favorite in a field of eight in the Grade 2 Santa Maria.
KEY CONTENDERS
Birdatthewire, by Summer Bird Last 3 Beyers: 83-89-82
◗ Birdatthewire won the third stakes of her career in the La Brea and her first Grade 1. She won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks at 1 1/16 miles last March.
◗ In the La Canada Stakes, Birdatthewire finished 5 1/4 lengths behind Taris after being carried wide on the first turn when one of the reins broke on the longshot Oscar Party, leaving jockey Santiago Gonzalez with little control.
“She ran well last time, considering all the things that happened to her,” Smith said.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Birdatthewire. Trainer Tom Proctor is 13-2-3-3 with a $4.03 ROI over the past year in dirt route graded stakes (10-0-0-1 in the prior four years). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Yahilwa, by Medaglia d’Oro Last 3 Beyers: 81-89-98
◗ Smith rode Yahilwa to a third-place finish in the La Canada Stakes. On Saturday, Joe Talamo has the mount for the first time since a win in an allowance race here in April 2014.
◗ Yahilwa won the Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne last April but is winless in six subsequent starts. She was third in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland last October and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff there later that month.
◗ The La Canada was Yahilwa’s first start since the BC Distaff. Because of the loss in the La Canada, trainer Jim Cassidy is taking a cautious approach to the Santa Maria.
“We came into that, and people thought she needed the race,” Cassidy said. “I don’t believe that. She never acted like she got tired. I’m not sure she likes this track. She doesn’t run as well on it as others. We’ll see how she is.”
◗ A 6-year-old, Yahilwa has won 2 of 10 starts on Santa Anita’s main track.
Tara’s Tango, by Unbridled’s Song Last 3 Beyers: 95-75-78
◗ Tara’s Tango was fourth after a slow start in the Kalookan Queen Stakes on Dec. 30 and third in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs as the 3-1 favorite under Smith on Jan. 23.
“She got away slow in the first one,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “In the last race, I thought she ran huge.”
◗ Last June, Tara’s Tango was beaten a nose by Stellar Wind in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at 1 1/16 miles here.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Tara’s Tango. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is 71-18-12-8 with a $3.14 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt at Santa Anita. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan