Ce Ce points to Santa Monica Stakes for next start

ARCADIA, Calif. - Ce Ce, a finalist for the 2021 Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding female sprinter, is scheduled to have her 2022 debut in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 5.

Trainer Michael McCarthy considered the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes or the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29, but said on Sunday the local race is preferred.

“It will probably be here,” McCarthy said.

Owned and bred by Bo Hirsch, Ce Ce has not raced since a win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 6, the third Grade 1 victory of her 16-race career.

:: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analytics, and expert picks.

On Saturday, Ce Ce worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds at Santa Anita. During the exercise, Ce Ce briefly worked in company with the promising 3-year-old Sir London, which was not scheduled to occur.

Sir London, the 10-length winner of a maiden special weight race at a mile at Los Alamitos on Dec. 4, was given an official time of 1:02.60, although trainer Simon Callaghan clocked the colt in 1:00.40. Callaghan plans to start Sir London in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds on Feb. 6.

The Santa Monica Stakes is run for fillies and mares at seven furlongs, and is likely to include Edgeway and Merneith, the first two finishers of the Kalookan Queen Stakes on Jan. 2. Merneith won the 2021 Santa Monica.

Slow Down Andy, the winner of the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 11, will have his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 29, trainer Doug O’Neill said Sunday.

The $750,000 Southwest Stakes is run at a mile and is the first graded stakes for 3-year-olds at the lucrative Oaklawn Park meeting in Arkansas.

On Sunday, Slow Down Andy worked five furlongs in 1:00.80. Mario Gutierrez is booked to ride Slow Down Andy in the Southwest, O’Neill said.

Slow Down Andy races for owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam and has won 2 of 3 starts. The $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity was Slow Down Andy’s graded stakes debut.