Lucky Girl will try to time her run in Senorita Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – In Kentucky and California, 3-year-old colts and 3-year-old fillies face challenges Saturday, racing 1 1/4 miles on dirt at Churchill Downs and a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
The Grade 3 Senorita Stakes for fillies at Santa Anita lacks the zing of the Kentucky Derby, but the fresh-challenge theme is similar.
Lucky Girl, who already won two stakes despite premature moves, will attempt to get covered up early and blast home late in the Senorita. Delmona, a sprinter, must carry her speed a route of ground. It is not exactly Zandon vs. Epicenter, but oh well.
The $100,000 Senorita is the fifth race at Santa Anita, and first of two potentially key turf races on the card for 3-year-old fillies. The ninth is a first-level allowance on the hillside course in which bred-for-turf stakes winner Connie Swingle faces upset candidate Gracelund Gray.
The Senorita is the top race Saturday, and the winner is likely to be Lucky Girl or Delmona. Four others aiming to upset are Island of Love, Sterling Crest, Fuente Ovejuna, and Baby Steps.
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Richard Baltas trains Lucky Girl and Sterling Crest. Although Sterling Crest finished in front of Lucky Girl last out in the Grade 3 Providencia at 1 1/8 miles, bettors will prefer Lucky Girl on Saturday. She is already a two-time stakes winner returning to her preferred mile trip.
“I’m hoping we get her covered up this time,” Baltas said.
The filly’s new rider, Ramon Vazquez, will try to do what former rider Joe Bravo could not – tuck her in. Lucky Girl made early moves on the backstretch in her last three starts.
“I don’t think that’s the way she needs to run. I think she needs to make one run,” Baltas said. “It’s going to make her a better horse if we can get her covered up and get her off the bridle a little bit.”
Despite the moves, Lucky Girl won the Lady of Shamrock and China Doll stakes. Last out, favored in the Providencia, she sputtered and finished fifth. If she gets cover and rallies while shortening to a mile, Lucky Girl can win.
She will have to catch Delmona, who stretches out from a hillside allowance win that was her second start in the United States. Jeff Mullins trains Delmona, who was good enough last year in France to finish a neck behind subsequent Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Twilight Gleaming.
Tyler Baze takes over on Delmona, who needs to ration her sprint speed going the longest distance of her career. Another stretch-out sprinter is Baby Steps, who complicates the pace scenario along with Sterling Crest.
Island of Love tries again after finishing second and fourth with compromising trips as the favorite in Lucky Girl’s wins. Phil D’Amato trains Island of Love, whose new rider is Juan Hernandez.
“Island of Love always runs a good race but has never had a completely clean trip,” D’Amato said.