Crisis of Spirit should feel some heat

ARCADIA, Calf. - "Don't move," trainer Bob Baffert will remind jockey Mike Smith on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Smith rides Crises of Spirit in the $58,000 Anoakia Stakes, and there is no secret strategy for the 2-year-old filly. "She's fast," Baffert said. "If he moves on her, she's gone."

Crisis of Spirit might be gone even if Smith does not move, although two good fillies will provide a stiffer challenge for Crisis of Spirit than the maidens she crushed last time.

Stakes winners Well Deserved and Camille C are contenders, while longshots Excellent News and Sandy Cheeks complete the field of five in the Anoakia, race 3 on the nine-race card.

Crisis of Spirit finished second in her Sept. 5 debut at Del Mar, three-quarters of a length behind Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies contender Always a Princess. Next out, Crisis of Spirit made an easy lead in a maiden race at Oak Tree and was gone.

A daughter of Vindication, Crisis of Spirit is out of Silverbulletway, an unraced daughter of Silverbulletday, the Hall of Fame filly also owned by Mike Pegram. From the outside post, Crisis of Spirit will be pushing the pace while her main rival must take heat again.

Well Deserved finished third as the even-money favorite last time in the $106,000 Barretts Debutante, a race trainer David Hofmans said did not set up for her.

"She had the one hole and was pressured the whole way," he said.

After setting the pace, Well Deserved was worn down late and finished third by a head. That was six weeks ago. Well Deserved has trained super since then and will be making her first start on Pro-Ride.

"She likes this track a lot," Hofmans said of Well Deserved, winner of the Cinderella Stakes in the summer at Hollywood Park.

Camille C won the Generous Portion at Del Mar and was second in the California Cup Juvenile Fillies. Cal Cup winner La Nez was pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, while third-place Whispering Hush was scheduled to start as the favorite Saturday in race 4 for maidens.

Excellent News is a Baffert trainee subbing for Miss Heather Lee, who will run seven furlongs Nov. 22 in the Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood. Sandy Cheeks is the only closer in the Anoakia.