Comebackers intrigue in allowance feature

CYPRESS, Calif. – Sidelined since winter, the 3-year-old stakes runners Creative Instinct and Reflect return in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at six furlongs at Los Alamitos.

Reflect was second in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland last October and later ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs. Friday’s race for fillies and mares will be her first start since she finished fourth in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 6.

Owned by Impact Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables, Reflect was sidelined because of issues with her feet, trainer Keith Desormeaux said.

“It was nothing serious,” Desormeaux said. “We needed to let a few abscesses grow out.

“She was given a freshening. Hopefully, she can return to that exciting form she had as a 2-year-old.”

Reflect won her debut in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs at Santa Anita in June 2018. Desormeaux thinks Sunday’s distance will work for Reflect.

“Being by Trappe Shot, she’s built for speed,” he said. “She’s ready to win. I know she’s fit enough. It’s a question if she’s sharp enough.”

Throughout her career, Reflect has run from a stalking position. In Sunday’s race, she is likely to be in pursuit of G Q Covergirl, who drew the rail, and Creative Instinct, who starts from post 6 in a field of seven.

G Q Covergirl is eligible to be claimed for $40,000. Trained by Doug O’Neill, G Q Covergirl is winless in six starts since winning an optional claimer on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in May 2018. G Q Covergirl has been favored in her last seven starts.

A 6-year-old, G Q Covergirl was claimed for $40,000 at Santa Anita in June and was third and second in $40,000 claiming races at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar in August. Sunday’s race is her first start on dirt since a fifth as the favorite in an optional claimer at Santa Anita in July 2017.

Creative Instinct, who won the Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar in August 2018, has not raced since a ninth-place finish in the California Cup Oaks for statebreds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in February.

Creative Instinct is winless in three starts on turf and unlikely to race on the surface again.

“I don’t think she cared for the turf,” trainer Peter Miller said.

Miller said Creative Instinct has been sharp in recent workouts at the San Luis Rey Downs training center.

“She’s still got her speed,” he said. “We’ve got a good post. It looks like a good spot.”

The 10-race Sunday card is the final program of the Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos. The Santa Anita autumn meeting begins on Friday and runs through Nov. 3, and it includes the Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 1-2.