If she can stay the trip, Colonial Creed should air

ARCADIA, Calif. – The handicapping question Friday at Santa Anita is the same as Friday at Churchill Downs – how far can a 3-year-old filly carry her speed as the feature-race favorite?

Colonial Creed will be tough in the fourth race at Santa Anita if she stays 1 1/8 miles on turf. Post time for the first-level allowance is 2:30 Pacific. About 45 minutes later at Churchill Downs, Bellafina will be tough in the Kentucky Oaks if she stays 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

The similarities end with the distance demands. Colonial Creed is no Bellafina, but she benefits from a pace advantage that Bellafina will miss. Colonial Creed could be loose on the lead in the seven-filly allowance, which includes last-out maiden winners Out of Balance, Over Emphasize, Hello Bubbles, and European import Social Graces. Truffalino and Italia also were entered.

The turf route shares billing Friday with a first-level allowance turf sprint, race 6. Northern California-based gelding Kiwi’s Dream, who runs best at Friday’s five-furlong trip, meets local comebacker Ultimate Bango and dirt-to-turf contenders Buckys Pick and Passionate Reward.

While the significance of the sprint is uncertain, the route may influence the Santa Anita turf program for 3-year-old fillies. The Grade 3 Senorita Stakes will be run Saturday at one mile, and the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles is scheduled for June 1.

Colonial Creed’s up-front style would have played well in the Senorita, which is void of speed. But trainer Richard Baltas has Lady Prancealot for the Senorita, and lately the trainer is making all the right moves. Baltas has won with seven of his last 13 starters, and three won turf stakes.

Colonial Creed ran well last out in the Grade 3 Providencia here at 1 1/8 miles. She inherited the lead on the backstretch, led to deep stretch, and was engulfed. She finished fifth by 1 1/2 lengths. The difference Friday is pace. Stakes-placed Colonial Creed could shake loose under Victor Espinoza. If she can stay nine furlongs, she should win.

Truffalino and Out of Balance have won at nine furlongs. Truffalino comes off a sixth in the Providencia, while Out of Balance won a maiden race last out. She is the sixth named foal and first winner produced by multiple Grade 1 winner Balance, a sibling to Zenyatta and 11th as the favorite in the 2006 Kentucky Oaks.

Over Emphasize and Hello Bubbles each won a maiden race at a shorter distance last out. Italia runs for the first time since August, while Social Graces makes her U.S. debut and first start since September.