Favored I'm So Anna has a lot going for her in Soviet Problem Stakes

California-bred fillies will try to restore order Saturday at Los Alamitos.

A week after the low-rated chaos of the Grade 1 Starlet, statebred juvenile fillies seek a return to normalcy in the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes. Eleven entered the one-mile race, 10 can start, and likely favorite I’m So Anna has recent history on her side.

I’m So Anna would be the fifth favorite to win the Soviet Problem in seven years at Los Alamitos. The race comes exactly a week after longshot Varda upset the Starlet with a pedestrian 68 Beyer, while odds-on Princess Noor pulled up with an injury and was retired.

Other than a challenging post (10), I’m So Anna enters the Soviet Problem with multiple attributes. She won a route stakes on turf at Golden Gate Fields last out, a maiden sprint on dirt at Los Alamitos in summer, and enters with the highest recent speed figures.

Im So Anna’s rivals include Dylans Wild Cat, second in a sprint stakes despite a tough trip; Sensible Cat, last-out winner of a maiden turf route; and two-time sprint stakes winner Governor Goteven. The others are Mucho Woman, Super Game, Miss Glorious, Will Take a Kiss, Westward Breeze, Love Wins, and also-eligible Eddie’s New Dream.

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Trained in Northern California by Steve Sherman, I’m So Anna arrived Monday evening at the Los Alamitos stable of Art Sherman, Steve’s father. The filly’s connections hope things go better than the last time she aimed to a Southern California stakes race.

Kevin and Kimberly Nish bred and own I’m So Anna, whose impressive maiden win in July made her the favorite for the $100,000 CTBA Stakes in August at Del Mar. I’m So Anna got sick, scratched, and summer turned into a debacle.

“She threw us a curveball, and we never could really get into a good rhythm with her,” Steve Sherman said.

She recovered, but her routine was messed up, and after I’m So Anna finished second in the $100,000 Generous Portion, Sherman took her home with a new objective. Her pedigree was pure sprint, but he suspected she wanted two turns.

“She looks like a route filly,” Sherman said. “She’s a big, long, leggy filly with a long back.”

Sherman trusted his eyes, even though I’m So Anna was sired by sprinter Fast Anna and produced by a sprint dam. Sherman stretched her to two turns at Golden Gate in her last two starts.

I’m So Anna finished second against males in an allowance route, then won the $75,000 Pike Place Dancer against fillies at a mile on turf. Proven at Los Alamitos, I’m So Anna will be ridden Saturday by Ricky Gonzalez.

Dylans Wild Cat finished second last out, racing seven furlongs in the $150,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Santa Anita. She was shuffled and uncomfortable early, went outside to lose ground, rallied to the front, and got nailed. Neil French trains the improving filly, whose rider is Flavien Prat.

Governor Goteven is likely to set the pace in the Soviet Problem, race 8 of 9 on Saturday.