Fantastic Style, Enchanting Lady one-two sprinting punch

ARCADIA, Calif. – Fantastic Style came off a lengthy layoff to win the Las Flores Stakes on Sunday, giving trainer Bob Baffert and owner Kaleem Shah a pair of top female sprinters who Baffert hopes will be in the mix for championship honors later this year.

They also have Enchanting Lady, who came off a seven-month layoff to win an allowance race Feb. 11. A two-time stakes winner, Enchanting Lady will make her next start in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland on April 9. Both she and Fantastic Style will be under consideration for the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, May 7. Only one is likely to run.

“I want to keep them separated,” Baffert said. “The whole deal is to get them to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.”

The Neil Drysdale-trained Miss Double d’Oro unleashed a powerful closing charge to win the Arboretum II Stakes down the hill last Friday and earned herself a spot in another downhill race, the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes for female turf sprinters on closing day, April 10, according to Drysdale.

Miss Double d’Oro rallied from last to first under Santiago Gonzalez, whose ride was praised by Drysdale.

“That’s the way she needs to be ridden,” Drysdale said. “She has a short, explosive run.”