Eda figures one to catch in Anoakia Stakes

The Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 5 ended in early stretch for Eda, the 6-5 favorite. Eda was part of a torrid speed duel in the seven-furlong race and faded rapidly in the final quarter-mile.

The loss ended Eda’s chances for the major stakes of autumn, such as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5 at Del Mar. Instead, Eda will start favored in Sunday’s $75,000 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Santa Anita.

Owned by Baoma Corp. and trained by Bob Baffert, Eda has yet to finish first in three starts. She was second by a nose in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita in June and was promoted to first when Ko Olina was disqualified for causing interference in the stretch.

Eda finished second by a head to Elm Drive in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 6 at Del Mar, racing near the front throughout. Anything close to a repeat of that performance would give Eda a win in the five-runner Anoakia.

Eda will start from the rail and will be ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, the leading rider at the meeting. Prat said Friday that he has yet to work Eda, who was purchased for $550,000 at a 2-year-olds in training sale in Florida in March.

:: Win big at Santa Anita: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and Betting Strategies.

Eda is expected to set the pace, but could be closely tracked by Shes Bout a Mover, who drew the outside post.

Trained by Simon Callaghan, Shes Bout a Mover led throughout a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs in her career debut on Sept. 17 at Los Alamitos. Shes Bout a Mover broke from the rail and won by 2 1/2 lengths.

“I think she’s got some natural speed,” Callaghan said.

Juan Hernandez rode Shes Bout a Mover at Los Alamitos and has the mount Sunday. Callaghan expects Hernandez to decide race tactics in the first furlong.

“We have options, being on the outside,” he said. “If they are flying, we can sit outside.

“I think down the road she could be a turf filly. We want to see where we stand after this race.”

Baffert starts Benedict Canyon, a nose winner of a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 5 at Del Mar.

Lady T was a fast-closing second to Benedict Canyon in her debut and will have her second start in the Anoakia. Trained by John Shirreffs, Lady T will benefit if a speed duel develops in the Anoakia.

Cadillac Margarita, beaten in three stakes at Emerald Downs since mid-July, will have her California debut in the Anoakia.