Free: Venetian Harbor rockets to top of class

Fun stuff happened around the country Saturday, most notably the emergence of a star filly at Santa Anita and a splashy U.S. debut at Oaklawn Park by an undefeated Group 1 winner from Argentina.

A star is born

The 3-year-old filly division gets deeper every week, and Venetian Harbor’s freaky romp in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes on Saturday at Santa Anita puts her in select company.

Since last spring when the track was modified it consistently has generated slow times. Only two dirt miles at Santa Anita have been faster than Venetian Harbor’s 1:37.51 in winning the Las Virgenes – Spun to Run’s 1:36.58 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Midcourt’s 1:36.89 stakes win. Spun to Run is the only winner to set faster fractions than Venetian Harbor’s 46.72 seconds and 1:11.74. Considering the fractions, her 25.77 final quarter is actually okay.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Since 2014, when the race was moved to early February, no Las Virgenes has been won by a larger margin than Venetian Harbor’s 9 1/4 lengths. Of course, Songbird (5 3/4) and Unique Bella (8 3/4) both earned 99 Beyer Speed Figures, while Venetian Harbor earned a mere 92. Gives her something to shoot for.

In previous seasons, Venetian Harbor would automatically run back in the Santa Anita Oaks. That was before it was downgraded to a Grade 2. Perhaps recent winners sullied the Oaks reputation – ne’er-do-wells such as Songbird, Paradise Woods, and Midnight Bisou.

Whether she stays home for the Grade 2 or goes to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes – both races are April 4 – Venetian Harbor has suddenly emerged as top contender for the Kentucky Oaks. After back-to-back blowouts in a maiden race and a Grade 2, one could argue she deserves early favoritism. Let’s not get carried away.

After all, champion juvenile filly British Idiom may have something to say about Oaks favoritism when she returns Saturday at Fair Grounds. Furthermore, Taraz in the Oaks field means another front-runner to liven the pace. But the speed of the speed in the Oaks? Twelve weeks out, Venetian Harbor looks like she could be long gone.

La Renoleta one to watch

It is too soon to know if La Renoleta will be elite in North America, but the timing is perfect. In a thin distaff division, there is plenty of room for fresh, new, and undefeated.

La Renoleta, a Group 1 winner in South America, made an auspicious U.S. debut Saturday at Oaklawn, winning a second-level allowance by nearly 10 lengths. Her 89 Beyer is short of par for graded stakes, but it was her first start in seven months and first in North America. Call it an ideal prep for the 5-for-5 filly now trained by Steve Asmussen.

Looking at the class hierarchy, it is easy to see the division needs help. Midnight Bisou goes to Saudi Arabia. Ollie’s Candy, unraced since fall, returns next month at Santa Anita. The top finishers in the Sam Houston Ladies Classic – Lady Apple, Serengeti Empress, and Street Band -- were separated by less than a length. Their rematch comes April 18 in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn.

Yes, there is room for La Renoleta, because who else is there? Monomoy Girl still has not worked, and Grade 1-placed comebacker Point of Honor is up to a half-mile in her works. Maybe a few others deserve mention.

Go Google Yourself might be the one to beat Monday in the Bayakoa at Oaklawn. Golden Award is nominated to the Bayakoa and the Royal Delta on Saturday at Gulfstream. Hard Not to Love sprints on Saturday in the Santa Monica at Santa Anita, and then stretches out.

As for La Renoleta, a second-level win with an ordinary Beyer Figure does not automatically signal imminent fame. But it’s a good place to start. Stay tuned.

Tale of two turf mares

Developments in the female turf division occurred Saturday in Florida. Got Stormy bombed and finished off the board in the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs. By contrast, 7-year-old Starship Jubilee continues to amaze, taking the Grade 3 Suwannee River at Gulfstream Park for her 16th win.

Got Stormy was supposed to win the Endeavour, then ship to Santa Anita to start favored over colts and geldings next month in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile. She may ship anyway, but her form is dubious. Got Stormy started Saturday at 1-5, lowest odds in her career, and misfired without a visible alibi. There is no positive spin when a Grade 1-winning female finishes off the board in a Grade 3. Not good for Got Stormy.

You have to admire Starship Jubilee, whose victory in the Suwannee River was partly due to a clever ride by Luis Saez. He positioned Starship Jubilee outside favorite Magic Star, effectively trapping that rival in traffic. Starship Jubilee got first run and drew off. Tactics might not have mattered, considering the four-length margin, but it was fun to watch.

Afterward, Saez told Gulfstream publicity that Starship Jubilee “is pretty easy to ride.” She also is a better mare than the last time Saez rode her. That was three years ago on Feb. 12, 2017. Starship Jubilee finished second that day and was claimed for $16,000. Since then, she has won 13 races and more than $1.3 million.