Getback Time makes stakes debut

DEL MAR, Calif. - The eighth race at Santa Anita on April 21 was a sleepy maiden claimer for California-bred 3-year-old fillies. At least that's the way it seemed at the time.

It turns out a claim from that race may be the highlight of trainer Rafael Becerra's season. Acting on behalf of a partnership, he claimed the winner, Getback Time, for $40,000. She has not lost since.

Sunday at Del Mar, will try to stretch her winning streak to five in the $100,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Getback Time is making her stakes debut and may go favored in a field of nine.

"It could happen to anyone - you take a shot," Becerra said of the claim. "Sometimes they turn into a good horse, or a bum."

Following the maiden win, Getback Time won three races at Hollywood Park - a starter allowance race, which she won by 8 1/2 lengths; an allowance race for California-breds; and an allowance race against open company.

The Fleet Treat became a goal after Getback Time's most recent race, on July 1.

"When she won against open company, I thought she could do it," Becerra said. "I don't think the distance will be a problem. We'll be tough."

Getback Time will be ridden by Tyler Baze, who was aboard top Fleet Treat contender Silly Little Mama in her last two starts.

Owned by Stacy Campo, Silly Little Mama has won 5 of 8 starts and $117,365. She has won four stakes, ranging in distance from 5 1/2 furlongs on turf to 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt.

She won the Manhattan Beach Stakes for turf sprinters at Hollywood Park on May 29 and was fourth in the one-mile Flawlessly Stakes on turf on July 2, the longest race of her career. Trainer Dan McFarlane thought Silly Little Mama could have finished closer with a better trip.

"She got hung up a little bit going down the backside," McFarlane said. "If she could have gotten out a little sooner, she could have been second or third."

The Fleet Treat Stakes has been a goal for Silly Little Mama. She showed speed when racing at Turf Paradise earlier in her career but has come from off the pace in her last two starts.

breaks from post 2.

"I wish I had drawn farther to the outside, but she settles now," McFarlane said.

The race also drew , a stakes winner last year who has not started since finishing third in the Cover Gal Stakes last October.