Ce Ce drills half-mile for Santa Monica Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ce Ce is set to make her first start since her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Santa Monica, like the Filly and Mare Sprint, is at seven furlongs.

Ce Ce worked a sharp half-mile in 47 seconds Sunday morning for trainer Michael McCarthy. She is a finalist for an Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter.

One of her potential rivals, Edgeway, will not run, trainer John Sadler said. Edgeway won the Kalookan Queen on Jan. 2 after finishing second to Ce Ce in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Sadler will instead run Park Avenue, runner-up in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes last time out Jan. 1.

Forbidden Kingdom targets San Felipe

The speedy Forbidden Kingdom, front-running winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente going seven furlongs on Saturday at Santa Anita, will try two turns for the first time in the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 5, trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday morning.

Mandella said Forbidden Kingdom, who earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, seemed to take the race well.

“Ate up good, looks good,” he said.

- additional reporting by Brad Free

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