Journey Home hopes to be 3 for 3 after Blue Norther

ARCADIA, Calif. – Journey Home missed the excitement on the first turn last month when she won the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes over Del Mar turf that resembled an obstacle course.

Foam drain covers that blew onto the clubhouse turn of the one-mile race created a surprise distraction for most in the field – 10 of the 13 juvenile fillies either steadied or were pushed wide at the debris.

But not Journey Home. She trailed early, avoided the litter, and blasted home to win going away. It was her second win from two starts for trainer Graham Motion and assistant Aimee Dollase.

“Obviously, there were some unexpected circumstances in that race, but it didn’t seem to faze her too much,” Dollase said. “She’s very professional.”

At Santa Anita on Thursday, Journey Home is expected to start favored in the $75,000 Blue Norther, a one-mile turf race in which her main rival is a filly who, unlike Journey Home, was severely compromised in the Jimmy Durante.

Miss Sugars was pushed seven wide on the first turn, stayed wide on the backstretch, saved ground on the far turn and finished with run, fourth by three lengths.

“For her to get any part of it was amazing,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “That race was a mess.”

Journey Home and blinkers-on Miss Sugars are the principals in the 11-runner Blue Norther, the final race on an eight-race card. Trainers Richard Baltas and Doug O’Neill each entered three.

Six of the Blue Norther starters exit the Jimmy Durante. In addition to Journey Home and Miss Sugars, they are Simmy’s Temple, Partyinthepaddock, La Force, and Mo’vette. Five last-out maiden winners entered: Cynthiana, Princess Roi, Yuvetsi, Tap It All, and Joe’sgoldenholiday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Journey Home, by War Front
Last 2 Beyers: 75-65

◗ She will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, who was aboard for her win in the Jimmy Durante.

◗ Motion has 12 stalls at Santa Anita and potential starters in several upcoming stakes – Queen Blossom in the Grade 1 American Oaks on Saturday, Arles in the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel on Saturday, and Ring Weekend in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes on Jan. 7.

Miss Sugars, by Harbour Watch
Last 2 Beyers: 69-65

◗ Mullins said the addition of blinkers is “to get her a little closer into the race; some of the Europeans want to lag.”

◗ Tyler Baze rides Miss Sugars, a 1-for-5 sprinter in England prior to arriving in the U.S. She was fifth in her U.S. debut prior to a better-than-it-looked fourth in the Jimmy Durante.

Cynthiana, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 71-61-60

◗ She is one of the three Baltas trainees, along with Princess Roi and Mo’vette.

◗ Cynthiana “is still learning how to run,” Baltas said. She was green and lugged in through the lane last time after making the lead. She has won one of four.

Tap It All, by Tapizar
Last 3 Beyers: 73-46-54

◗ Purchased for $800,000 early this year, she won a Turf Paradise maiden race last out by more than 13 lengths in her ninth start.