Blue Norther win gives Miss Sugars clear goals for 2017

ARCADIA, Calif. – Miss Sugars has found a home as a turf miler in Southern California.

After encountering traffic and obstacles in two stakes losses in October and November, Miss Sugars had a trouble-free trip in Thursday’s $84,225 Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

The win gives owners Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal and trainer Jeff Mullins clear goals for her for 2017.

“It puts an exclamation point on what we thought she’d be,” Mullins said in the winner’s circle. “We weren’t sure if she was a route horse.

“She proved she could go two turns. She might go farther. I think it takes her a little while to get going.”

Turf races will be the focus for the new year, Mullins said.

“She doesn’t like the dirt at all,” he said.

Miss Sugars was only a maiden-race winner in England when she arrived in California in early fall. She had eventful journeys in her first two starts in the United States.

Miss Sugars was fifth in the Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf here in October after racing in traffic on the final turn and wide into the stretch. In the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 26, Miss Sugars was forced out on the first turn to avoid drain covers that had blown onto the turf course during a rain storm minutes before the race. Miss Sugars finished fourth in the Jimmy Durante Stakes.

Miss Sugars was fitted with blinkers for the first time in the Blue Norther.

“We thought with the blinkers on she’d stay closer on her own,” Mullins said. “She’s had some tough luck.”

In the Blue Norther, Miss Sugars ($14.60) closed from fourth in a field of 10 under jockey Tyler Baze to win by a head over 15-1 Princess Rio.

“I wanted to get first jump on everyone else,” Baze said. “She put me in a great spot.”

Miss Sugars is unlikely to have a busy winter campaign. The next stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf here is the $75,000 China Doll Stakes at a mile on March 11, followed by the $150,000 Providencia Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on April 8.