Elysea's World gets more ground in Santa Ana

ARCADIA, Calif. – Last year, Elysea’s World won three Grade 3 races at Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park when trained by Chad Brown. This year, new trainer Richard Baltas hopes to surpass those achievements while racing Elysea’s World in Southern California.

Purchased for $500,000 at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, Elysea’s World will have her second start for Baltas in Saturday’s Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

Elysea’s World was a quiet sixth in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf Feb. 23 in her first start for Baltas and new owners Abbondanza Racing, Christopher Dunn, and Jerry McClanahan.

“She’ll be tough,” Baltas said. “I hope she gets the mile and a quarter, and I think she will.”

The $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes drew a field of eight. India Mantuana and Lynne’s Legacy are the other stakes winners in the field. There will be support for Streak of Luck, who was second in the Buena Vista, and Zaffinah, who was third in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf in January.

KEY CONTENDERS

Elysea’s World, by Champs Elysses
Last 3 Beyers: 86-87-94

◗ Elysea’s World spent most of late February and March at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in San Diego County, where Baltas has a division of his stable. The more tranquil atmosphere was a benefit for the 6-year-old Elysea’s World, Baltas said.

“I don’t think she was happy here,” he said from Santa Anita. “Since she’s been down there, I think it’s been a positive. I think she’ll run better.”

◗ The Buena Vista was a needed prep race, Baltas said.

“I think the mile was too short,” he said. “She’s a big, strong filly.”

Streak of Luck, by Old Fashioned
Last 3 Beyers: 91-83-82

◗ Streak of Luck closed well to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind the five-time stakes winner Vasilika in the Buena Vista Stakes. This will be her first start at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

“I think she wants to go the distance,” trainer Matt Chew said. “She keeps slowly improving.”

◗ Chew also starts expected pacesetter Poster Girl, who unseated jockey Mike Smith at the start of the Wishing Well Stakes at five furlongs on turf Feb. 16. Evin Roman rides Poster Girl in the Santa Ana, the longest race of the 6-year-old mare’s career.

India Mantuana, by Wilburn
Last 3 Beyers: 87-64-89

◗ India Mantuana won the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in November, but has struggled in two subsequent starts, finishing eighth in the Grade 3 Astra Stakes on Jan. 20 and 10th against males in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes on Feb. 9.

◗ Trainer Ray Bell said this week that India Mantuana might be retired and bred this spring, pending the results of Saturday’s race.