Cash cow Zorra Roja moves way up

ALBANY, Calif. - Zorra Roja is a 3-year-old filly still trying to establish her identity in the race world. She's a consistent check earner but has only 1 victory in 11 starts. She been running in starter allowance company but will meet tougher in Saturday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a one-mile turf race for fillies and mares with an optional $25,000 claiming price.

Seven runners are entered, including Home Ice, who will race only if the race is switched to the Tapeta main track.

"This is definitely a tougher race than she's been running in," said Zorra Roja's trainer, Holly Evans.

The starter allowance races are for runners that have only one victory. Zorra Roja will be meeting multiple winners here.

She's coming back quickly, too, only a week since running second by a head in a six-furlong starter allowance at Golden Gate. That race came six weeks after she ran fourth in a one-mile starter on the turf at Bay Meadows. Evans said she wanted to run Zorra Roja in a route last time, but couldn't find a suitable race, and finally settled for the sprint.

"She came out of the race good and got all calmed down," Evans said. "So that's why I'm bring her back quickly."

Evans was pleasantly surprised with the way Zorra Roja ran last out, saying she is better going long.

"It think she liked the track," Evans said. "That will give me more options on both surfaces."

Alfredo Miranda, who has been aboard in all 11 of Zorra Roja's starts, rides her again.

"He works her and even gallops her, so he knows her very well," Evans said.

Britney Heat and In Other Words, both with three victories, also are entered. In Other Words, stepping up off a victory on the turf, lost to Britney Heat two back when that one dug in to record a wire-to-wire victory.

Galica tried stakes company in Canada last out. She has five victories. She and In Other Words are the only runners entered for a tag.

Argentine maiden winner Mascota Spa comes north for the first time after running third in her U.S. debut Aug. 29 in a $25,000 claimer at Del Mar.

Mamita Chula and Royal Prana, both of whom have won on the turf, round out the field.