La Canada resurfaces on Sunday card with same main players
ARCADIA, Calif. – La Canada Stakes, take two. Santa Anita canceled racing on Saturday because of rain, and moved the Grade 3 La Canada to Sunday. The story is the same.
A softer pace, longer distance, and easier competition provide Ganadora and Under the Stars a shot at redemption in the route race for fillies and mares.
Both fizzled opening day in the Grade 1 La Brea at seven furlongs. Ganadora dueled, cracked, and finished fifth. Under the Stars finished last of seven. “They’re better than that,” trainer Bob Baffert said. He is right, especially at 1 1/16 miles, the La Canada distance.
Ganadora and Under the Stars are the principals in the La Canada, which is the first graded dirt route since Oct. 2 for California fillies and mares. Others entered in the $200,000 race include Kirstenbosch, Smoothlikebuttah, Angel Nadeshiko, and Natural Colour.
The La Canada is race 7 on an all-dirt card that includes the comeback of the circuit’s top maiden 3-year-old. Hejazi, purchased for $3.55 million before he finished second in a pair of fast maiden races and third in a Grade 1. He returns in race 1.
Ganadora initially drew the rail in the La Canada but landed post 3 when the race was redrawn. No matter either way. Ganadora is likely to set the pace; the splits will be slower than the 44.80-second half that contributed to her La Brea defeat. “I’m hoping she just had a bad day,” Baffert said.
Ganadora dueled inside a multi-way jam and finished six lengths behind stablemate winner Fun to Dream. In the La Canada, Ganadora figures to set an easier pace, with Under the Stars in pursuit. The longer distance benefits both fillies.
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“Two turns gives them a chance to get into a rhythm, and they never did [in the La Brea],” Baffert said. Both prefer routes. Ganadora won a route stakes at Los Alamitos in September; Under the Stars won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita in June.
Ganadora has won 3 of 5; Under the Stars 3 of 10. While the pace of the La Brea provides an alibi for Ganadora, Under the Stars lost it pre-race.
“She was a little anxious in the paddock. She got a little hot going to the gate,” Baffert said.
Ganadora could lead the La Canada wire to wire; Under the Stars probably would inherit the lead if Ganadora tires.
Race 1 on Sunday marks the first start for Hejazi since Oct. 8, when he finished third in the Grade 1 American Pharoah. “After that, we just regrouped and freshened him up a little bit,” Baffert said.
Baffert’s second starter is Worcester, an even-paced fourth in his debut.
“He ran even, but he started running at the end. I’d like to give him one more [sprint] before I stretch him out,” Baffert said.
The maiden field includes Sully, a promising fourth in his debut for trainer John Shirreffs, and fast-working first-time starter I Don’t Get It, trained by Doug O’Neill.
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