Cholula Lips likely to make next start on turf

Cholula Lips, the upset winner of Saturday’s $101,053 Soviet Problem Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at Los Alamitos, is likely to return to turf in her first start of 2020.

Trainer Mike Harrington said on Saturday that Cholula Lips will be considered for the $200,000 California Cup Oaks for statebred 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 18.

Owned by Terry Lovingier and Amanda Navarro, Cholula Lips won her first stakes in the Soviet Problem Stakes at a mile. She stalked the early pace under jockey Tyler Baze before taking the lead in early stretch. Cholula Lips ($18.40) pulled clear to win by three lengths, her second win in seven starts.

The Soviet Problem Stakes was the sixth consecutive appearance in a stakes for Cholula Lips, who is by Empire Way. She was second in two of her first five starts in stakes – the Debutante Stakes against open company at Churchill Downs in June and the Generous Portion Stakes for statebred fillies at six furlongs at Del Mar in August.

“She just keeps going,” Harrington said. “She doesn’t get tired. She’s a good filly.”

Cholula Lips, who has won two of seven starts and earned $159,250, has one previous start on turf, finishing fifth in the Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile against open company at Santa Anita on Oct. 6.