Faiza scores third straight in Las Virgenes

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Faiza began Saturday’s Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita from an inside post, was positioned comfortably in third midway through the one-mile race, and took the lead for good in early stretch. All told, the $200,500 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies was an efficient win for Faiza, extending her winning streak to three races with her second victory in a stakes.

The result was expected. Faiza was the even-money favorite in a field of six that included two other stakes winners.

Ridden for the first time by Ramon Vazquez, Faiza ($4) won by a half-length over 7-2 Pride of the Nile. They were the first two finishers in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes, which Faiza won by a head, at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10.

While Pride of the Nile challenged Faiza in the stretch of the Las Virgenes, she could not make progress on the winner. Faiza was timed in 1:38.46.

:: Get ready for Santa Anita racing with DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports.

“She’s pretty easy to ride,” Vazquez said. “I wanted to put her in a good spot. I wanted her to be in the clear. She’s nice.”

Faiza stalked 10-1 Sweet Trouble through an early pace of 22.01 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.04 for a half-mile. Faiza was three wide on the backstretch and challenged Sweet Trouble for the lead on the turn.

Pride of the Nile, ridden by Juan Hernandez, closed from fourth to finish 2 1/2 lengths in front of 2-1 Justique.

“I have no excuse,” Hernandez said. “She made a nice move on the turn. She’s learning and I think she’ll be okay next time.”

Justique, the winner of the Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs in November, was beaten three lengths. She was last to the turn before making some progress.

Sweet Trouble, Uncontrollable, and Broadway Girls completed the order of finish. Broadway Girls won the Blue Norther Stakes on turf on Dec. 30. The Las Virgenes was her stakes debut on dirt.

Justique was scheduled to start in the Grade 3 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs on Jan. 1, but the race was postponed a week because of rain. Justique was withdrawn from the rescheduled Santa Ynez because of a brief illness.

Faiza, by Girvin, has earned $342,000 in three starts, a career that began with a win in a maiden race at six furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 12. Trained by Bob Baffert for Michael Petersen, Faiza was purchased for $725,000 at a 2-year-olds in-training sale in Maryland in May.

The Las Virgenes is part of the qualifying series for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5, but Faiza did not earn 20 points for winning since Baffert is suspended from starting horses in the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby this year because of a medication violation found in 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.

To earn qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, Baffert’s leading 3-year-olds must be transferred to other trainers in coming months. A similar scenario was in place last year. This is the second and final year of Baffert’s ban by Churchill Downs.

Pride of the Nile (8), Justique (6), Sweet Trouble (4), and Uncontrollable (2) earned points.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.