Home Journey looks too quick for rivals in California Distaff

ARCADIA, Calif. – The weather might be the only thing that can stop Home Journey in Sunday’s $100,000 California Distaff Handicap at Santa Anita.

Home Journey is quick, and that speed could be too much for her six rivals to overcome in the race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course for California-bred fillies and mares. Earlier this year on the hillside course, Home Journey won the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Handicap and was second by a head in the Mizdirection Stakes. Those races were against open company.

The California Distaff will be Home Journey’s first start since she finished a well-beaten second to Shrinking Violet in the Daisycutter Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 7.

Home Journey is one of three mares in the field with stakes wins in the last year, along with Velvet Mesquite, who won the 2014 California Distaff, and Harlington’s Rose, who won the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes on dirt here last March.

KEY CONTENDERS

Home Journey (Last 3 Beyers: 89-100-92)

◗ Home Journey has set the pace in most of her starts, and trainer Mike Puype expects the same scenario in the California Distaff.

“They’re not fast enough to go with her,” Puype said.

◗ In a furiously run Daisycutter, Home Journey was within a half-length of the front early and led in the stretch but could not hold off a remarkable late kick shown by Shrinking Violet, who is trained by Wesley Ward.

“Wesley’s horse was too much,” Puype said.

◗ Puype said a concern is the weather forecast. There is a chance for much-needed rain in Southern California on Sunday. If the race were transferred to the main track, Puype said he would confer with owners Mark and Daryle Ann Giardino and Russ Sarno before proceeding.

Velvet Mesquite (Last 3 Beyers: 69-86-86)

◗ Velvet Mesquite is winless in five starts since the 2014 California Distaff, a span that includes third-place finishes in the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes and Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares on the hillside turf course.

◗ Trained by Blake Heap, Velvet Mesquite was given a break of nearly six months after the Irish O’Brien Stakes in March, returning to action with a seventh-place finish in the CERF Stakes on dirt at Del Mar on Sept. 6.

“We wanted to get a race into her for this race,” Heap said. “I think she’ll run a pretty good race. We’re hoping she’s back on form.”

Chaulk o Lattey (Last 3 Beyers: 86-84-84)

◗ Chaulk o Lattey was second in the Solana Beach Handicap for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 16 in her stakes debut. She beat maidens on the hillside turf course last March and has won 3 of 8 races.