Enola Gray vs. Smoove It again in Irish O'Brien Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Enola Gray and Smoove It, one-two last month in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on the hillside turf course, renew their rivalry Saturday at Santa Anita in the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes, a race Smoove It won last year.

Enola Gray will be strongly favored. She scored by 3 1/4 lengths last time at 3-5 odds and is unbeaten at these exact conditions – sprinting on the hillside course against California-bred females, both times under jockey Tyler Baze, who is back aboard Saturday.

“Tyler says she absolutely loves it,” said Phil D’Amato, who trains Enola Gray for owner and breeder Nick Alexander. “She’s doing super, on go, ready to go.”

D’Amato said Enola Gray could use this as a prep for the Grade 2, $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes going a mile on turf against open company on April 8.

“We might take a shot at that,” he said.

First, though, Enola Gray must down nine rivals in the Irish O’Brien.

Smoove It returns to turf after finishing fourth of five in the Spring Fever on the dirt Feb. 19.

Desert Steel, third in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, benefits by getting off the rail, from which she had to be used aggressively last time out.

Bert’s Melody, who has won four races on Santa Anita’s turf, seeks her first win on the downhill course in her first start since May.

The Irish O’Brien is race 7 on the 10-race card and thus kicks off the pick four.