Defections open up Soviet Problem Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. – The $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies will be run on Saturday without the first two finishers of the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Give Me a Hint, who won the Golden State Juvenile Fillies in her stakes debut, is being rested until the spring, trainer Bob Hess Jr. said.

“I’m going to give her a little break,” he said. “She has a few little baby things.”

Mucho Unusual “won’t make the race,” trainer Tim Yakteen said in a text message.

There were five probable starters as of Wednesday morning, including Creative Instinct, who won the Generous Portion Stakes for statebred fillies at Del Mar on Aug. 29, and Hotitude, who was third in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies.

Blueberry Acclaim, who won a maiden race against open company at Golden Gate Fields in her debut on Nov. 24, will remain in Northern California for her next start, trainer Jonathan Wong said in a text message.

This is the final weekend of the Los Alamitos winter meeting. Santa Anita begins its winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26.