Lady Ninja goes from claimer to Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint candidate

ARCADIA, Calif. – From a $40,000 claimer in February to a Grade 3 winner Saturday, Lady Ninja has had a quite transformation this year.

After winning Saturday’s Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita, Lady Ninja is being strongly considered for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint here at seven furlongs on Nov. 2.

“I think she can do seven-eighths and I think she’s an improving horse,” trainer Richard Baltas said.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2019: See DRF’s top contenders

Baltas claimed Lady Ninja for $32,000 in September 2018 with Harry Bederian, Harout Kamberian, and Hagop Nakkashian. Baltas is part of the ownership group.

The $32,000 claiming price is slightly more than the $30,000 in pre-entry and entry fees that will be required to start in the $1 million BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

The L.A. Woman Stakes was Lady Ninja’s fifth win in 10 starts since being claimed and her first stakes win. She has earned $193,440 this year. At Del Mar, the 5-year-old Lady Ninja was third in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs after breaking in the air and racing at the back of the field for the first half-mile.

“She had a bad break at Del Mar and still ran a good race,” Baltas said. “She’s pretty gutty.”