Fashionably Fast, Baja Sur rematched in Cal Cup Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – When Fashionably Fast won the Harris Farms Stakes for California-breds at the Big Fresno Fair in October, it was his first victory in a stakes. He also beat Baja Sur, a rival with immense promise.

Two months later, Fashionably Fast and Baja Sur meet for the second time in the $150,000 California Cup Sprint for California-breds and California-sired runners at six furlongs at Santa Anita.

Both Baja Sur and Fashionably Fast are approaching the race in peak form.

After the Harris Farms Stakes, Baja Sur blitzed six rivals in the Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 16. Fashionably Fast won his fourth consecutive start in the Cary Grant Stakes for California-breds at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 24.

In the California Cup Sprint, Baja Sur and Fashionably Fast drew the inside two post positions in a field of seven. The California Cup Sprint will be Baja Sur’s first start in Southern California, which trainer Blaine Wright acknowledges will be a test.

“It’s time to try him down there,” Wright said on Thursday from his winter base at Golden Gate Fields.

Baja Sur is quick enough to set the pace, but has also raced well from a stalking position. Wright said Baja Sur can adapt to any pace scenario.

“He’s a versatile horse,” Wright said. “He can go should he need to.”

Baja Sur, who races for John and Janene Maryanski and Gerald Schneider, was bred in Washington and is by the California-based sire Smiling Tiger. Baja Sur has won 5 of 6 starts, including four stakes. The Harris Farms Stakes was his first start following a layoff of nearly four months.

“We thought we had a horse that was just a little short the first time,” Wright said in reference to the Harris Farms Stakes. “I wasn’t going to let that be an excuse. Dean’s horse was spot-on that day.”

Fashionably Fast, who races for John Harris, Per Antonsen and John Nicoletti, is unbeaten since trainer Dean Pederson and jockey Tiago Pereira decided to race the gelding without blinkers last summer.

“He’s matured as a horse,” Pederson said. “He used to get really hot and wash out. The last couple of time he’s run he’s been very good.

“Tiago has been very helpful. We worked him without blinkers and he started finishing. Lo and behold, he’s learned to be relaxed in the first part. Over time, he’s mentally gotten better.”

Baja Sur and Fashionably Fast are two of six stakes winners in the field along with Brandothebartender, Heck Yeah, Lieutenant Dan, and Oliver. Lieutenant Dan has excellent credentials, having won two stakes for 3-year-old California-breds last spring and summer. This is his first start since August.

The field includes the longshot League of Shadows, who is based at Turf Paradise.

Just Grazed Me streaking

Just Grazed Me had a career transformation when she was switched from dirt to turf last summer. Since finishing third in the Daisycutter Handicap on turf at Del Mar in July, Just Grazed Me is unbeaten in three subsequent starts in turf sprints.

The winning streak will make Just Grazed Me a heavy favorite to win her third consecutive stakes in Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for statebreds at 5 1/2 furlongs. Just Grazed Me, owned by breeder Nick Alexander and trained by Phil D’Amato, drew the rail in a field of seven.

Just Grazed Me has not raced since a win in the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf here on Nov. 2.

“She’s very happy and ready to run,” D’Amato said.

A 5-year-old, Just Grazed Me is one of two graded stakes winners in the field, along with Apache Princess, who won the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt here in February 2018.

Apache Princess was fifth in the Grade 1 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles here on Dec. 28, a race longer than her optimum trip.

“She’s confident every time she sprints,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said. “It’s back a little quick. She’s always been so resilient and holds her weight.”