Fillies face marathon challenge

ARCADIA, Calif. – Aguafria and Scooter Bird go from middle-distance races to a turf marathon on Thursday at Santa Anita, a race that could lead to a stakes next month.

The $65,000 allowance race over 1 1/2 miles on Thursday is a prep for the $100,000 Red Card Handicap over 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 22.

The allowance race will be the longest race of Aguafria and Scooter Bird’s careers. Both Aguafria and Scooter Bird have run well in recent starts, but must continue to improve to win on Thursday.

The field of six includes the Los Alamitos stakes winner Irish Presence, and two others who have won or placed in stakes – Bunairgead and Perfecta. Luvly Rita, a maiden after three races, will be the outsider in the group.

KEY CONTENDERS

Aguafria (Beyers: 84-83)

◗ Aguafria won twice on turf in France and was third in a minor stakes on a synthetic track there before joining trainer Neil Drysdale’s stable last winter.

◗ She was third in her U.S. debut in May in an optional claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf, and fourth, beaten three-quarters of a length, in a similar race over a mile on Oct. 9.

“She was a little fresh and hadn’t run in a bit,” Drysdale said of her last race.

◗ Drysdale described Thursday’s race “as an experiment.”

Scooter Bird (Last 3 Beyers: 86-75-82)

◗ A closer, Scooter Bird was third in the restricted Tranquility Lake Stakes over a mile on the synthetic track at Del Mar on Aug. 31, her most recent outing.

◗ She won her two preceding starts, which came in optional claimers – over 1 1/8 miles on turf here on June 19, and on the synthetic track at Del Mar on Aug. 3.

◗ Scooter Bird beat maidens over 1 1/8 miles on turf at Hollywood Park in May 2013.

“She doesn’t have any distance limitations,” trainer John Sadler said.

Bunairgead (Last 3 Beyers: 66-75-72)

◗ Bunairgead won the Lenebane Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf at Roscommon, Ireland, in July 2013, her only stakes win.

◗ A 4-year-old filly by New Approach, Bunairgead has struggled in her three starts in the United States, including an eighth in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 1, and a ninth in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes here on Sept. 27.