Miesque points out Major Idea

ARCADIA, Calif. - The victory of Atlantic Ocean on Sunday bodes well for Major Idea in Wednesday's $75,000 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita.

The two fillies, both owned by The Thoroughbred Corp., were entrymates in the $200,000 Miesque Stakes at a mile on turf at Hollywood Park on Nov. 29, with Atlantic Ocean winning and Major Idea finishing third.

The Miesque result looked strong when Atlantic Ocean returned on Sunday and won the Santa Ysabel Stakes on dirt for trainer Bob Baffert.

Following the Miesque, Major Idea returned to win an optional claimer over a mile on turf at Hollywood Park on Dec. 14 for trainer Neil Drysdale. The win might be an ideal tune-up for Wednesday's Blue Norther.

Major Idea faces six other 3-year-old fillies in the race, none of whom have won a stakes in this country.

Mac Melody was a minor stakes winner in Italy in July, her final start before going to trainer Bob Hess Jr. at Del Mar. Since arriving in the United States, Mac Melody has lost three starts, including an eighth-place finish in the Miesque.

Major Idea and Mac Melody are closers. The pace should come from Proven Form, who ran for claiming prices at Delaware in the fall, and Artist's Studio, who won a maiden race in the slop at Golden Gate Fields on Dec. 19.

Trainer Ron McAnally has two runners - No Kings, who drew the rail, and Vanilla Sky, who drew the outside. Both are capable of winning.

Following a ninth-place finish on dirt at Del Mar, No Kings won a maiden race on turf in his second start, on Oct. 23. She returned to finish second behind Major Idea at Hollywood Park.

Vanilla Sky was third behind Major Idea in the Dec. 14 optional claimer, but had a poor start. She rallied from seventh at the quarter pole to lose by a length. The race was her U.S. debut; it followed her maiden win against males at six furlongs at Fairyhouse, Ireland, in August.

Chief Little Dan and Proven Form are also entered. Chief Little Dan won her maiden at Colonial Downs over 5 1/2 furlongs in July, but lost three subsequent starts in sprints at Laurel. She is making her first start for Patrick Biancone. She was previously trained by John Scanlan, who trains top 3-year-old Toccet.

Proven Form would be a surprise winner. She has won twice, but both victories were against suspect company in claimers at Delaware Park.

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