Causeforcommotion can go the distance in Santa Barbara

ARCADIA, Calif. – It takes only one hand to count the number of U.S. filly-mare turf races run this year at 1 1/2 miles – five.

It takes only one finger to count the number of entrants in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes that thrive at the 1 1/2-mile distance.

Causeforcommotion is one of six fillies and mares entered in the $100,000 Santa Barbara, race 5 on Saturday at Santa Anita. A distance specialist, Causeforcommotion might stand out over Animosity, Lynne’s Legacy, Kodiak West, Guiliana, and Queen Bee to You.

Eric Kruljac trains Causeforcommotion, who emerged last spring as a player in the Santa Anita female turf division. She won a first-level allowance, finished second in the Santa Barbara, and won a minor stakes. But when the circuit moved south, her luck also went south.

During a five-furlong turf work in July at Del Mar, Causeforcommotion hit a wet patch, slipped, and strained a hind suspensory. That was it for 2018. Causeforcommotion did not start again until this April.

“We gave her double the time off, and hopefully she’ll have a nice spring and summer campaign for us,” Kruljac said.

So far, so good. Causeforcommotion, a 5-year-old, returned last month with a deceptively strong third in a mile turf allowance. Causeforcommotion ran successively faster each quarter-mile – 24.58 seconds, 24.12, 23.92, and 23.05.

“We were looking for a good out for her, and she got exactly what we’d hoped she would get out of it,” Kruljac said, adding he “really tightened the screws on her since.”

If she reproduces her stakes performances from last spring at Santa Anita, Causeforcommotion will be tough. And she is not the only turf filly finally returning to form after misfortune last summer. Animosity raced three times at Del Mar, with a tough-luck story for each.

Animosity lost position in the Grade 2 San Clemente, rallied from last, and missed by 2 1/2 lengths. In the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, she ducked into the rail at the three-eighths and lost her action. In the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, she was held up by an assistant when the gates opened and declared a non-starter.

Paddy Gallagher trains Animosity, a 4-year-old whose career may be gaining traction. She prepped in a February sprint, then stretched out and wired an entry-level allowance at 1 1/8 miles on turf here.

Expectations have always been high for Animosity, a Grade 2-placed filly whose chance hinges partly on the status of Queen Bee to You, who is entered in the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes on Sunday. If Queen Bee to You scratches from the Santa Barbara, Animosity might be loose on the lead.

Lynne’s Legacy finished third by a length last out in a Grade 3 at 1 1/4 miles. She will roll from behind.