Large-framed Venice stuck inside for debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – Venice, the 2-year-old filly who starts for the first time in Thursday’s second race at Santa Anita, was a backyard horse for owner and trainer Kristin Mulhall.

Mulhall bred Venice, who drew the rail in an eight-runner maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs for juvenile California-bred fillies.

“She’s huge,” Mulhall said. “You wouldn’t know she’s a 2-year-old.”

Venice is by the Distorted Humor stallion Heat Shield, who is owned by Mulhall and has been bred to a small number of mares, Mulhall said. Thursday’s race will be a test for Venice, who has worked well in recent weeks, most recently going three furlongs in 35 seconds from the gate last Friday.

Over the weekend, Mulhall said the race’s distance and Venice’s rail draw are concerns.

“If she was drawn outside, I’d be more confident,” she said. “She’ll be better going six furlongs.

“It’s hard not to run when they’re sound and ready.”

The field includes Whata Flirt and Ismelucky, the two leading yearling fillies at the Barretts sale last October. Whata Flirt, trained by John Brocklebank, was purchased for $95,000. She drew the outside post.

Ismelucky, trained by Jeff Bonde, was purchased for $90,000 last fall. She is out of Ismene, who won 3 of 10 starts and $236,990. Ismene won the 2011 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old filly sprinters at Santa Anita.

Gorgeous Ginny and Show It N Moe It come from solid female families.

Gorgeous Ginny, trained by Robertino Diodoro, is out of Brooke’s Halo, who won the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks in 2005. Show It N Moe It, trained by Gary Sherlock, is a half-sister to Unhitchthetrailor, who won the 2011 Barretts Juvenile.

There are three stakes on Saturday and Sunday, led by Sunday’s Grade 3 Adoration Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

Vale Dori, who has won four consecutive graded stakes since December, will be a strong favorite in the $100,000 Adoration. The race is a prep for the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on June 3. Trained by Bob Baffert, Vale Dori has not raced since winning the Grade 1 Santa Margarita at 1 1/8 miles on March 18.

Saturday’s Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies is expected to draw a large field led by the unbeaten Sircat Sally. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for owner and breeder Joe Turner, Sircat Sally has won five races. She won the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf April 8.

Saturday’s $75,000 Singletary Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf drew 20 nominations and is likely to have a large field. Bowies Hero, the winner of the Del Mar Juvenile Turf last September but 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf here last November, is expected to have his first start of 2017.

Bejarano to appeal suspension

Rafael Bejarano, the leading rider at the current Santa Anita spring-summer meeting, plans to appeal a four-day suspension he received for causing interference in a race last Friday.

The suspension was scheduled for Friday through Sunday and May 11. Tora Yamaguchi, Bejarano’s agent, said Sunday that Bejarano plans to lodge an appeal. Bejarano is scheduled to ride at Churchill Downs on Friday and at Santa Anita over the weekend, Yamaguchi said.

Bejarano was cited for altering course without clearance aboard Dr. Dorr in an optional claimer for sprinters. Dr. Dorr won the race. Stewards Grant Baker, Scott Chaney, and Kim Sawyer inquired into the incident but did not change the order of finish.

Many such cases result in a three-day suspension, but Bejarano was given a four-day suspension for having a second such infraction in the last 60 days.

Through Sunday, Bejarano led all riders with 12 wins, two more than Flavien Prat, who was the leading rider at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.