Miss Southern Miss looks to break through in Surfer Girl Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Miss Southern Miss has left trainer Keith Desormeaux baffled in recent months.

The 2-year-old filly is winless in three stakes, including a second in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 6 and a fifth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 3.

“I think the talent is there, and I’m doing my best to bring it out,” he said. “I really do like her.”

On Monday, Desormeaux is taking a different approach with Miss Southern Miss. She will start at a mile on turf in the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

“It’s her first time on turf, first at two turns,” Desormeaux said.

Desormeaux could have added that the Surfer Girl is Miss Southern Miss’s last chance to gain a spot in a Breeders’ Cup race. An encouraging race Monday would lead to an appearance in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf here on Nov. 4.

The Surfer Girl drew a field of 11, including the shippers Con Te Partiro, who won the Bolton Landing Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on turf at Saratoga on Aug. 17, and Happy Mesa, who won the Selima Stakes at Laurel on Sept. 10. Lady Beware, third in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 5, can be a factor even though she is a maiden after four starts.

KEY CONTENDERS

Miss Southern Miss, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 63-75-66

◗ Owned by Peter Cantrell, Miss Southern Miss was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Champagne Room in the Sorrento Stakes. She was steadied at the start of the race but still set the pace to the final furlong.

◗ In the Del Mar Debutante, Miss Southern Miss broke to the inside and was toward the back of the field. She was four wide on the turn but faded in the stretch to finish 9 1/4 lengths behind race winner Union Strike.

Con Te Partiro, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 77-57-NA

◗ Con Te Partiro had her turf debut in the Bolton Landing and cruised to a win by 5 3/4 lengths after a wide rally. The Bolton Landing was run at 5 1/2 furlongs, so the one-mile distance of the Surfer Girl will be a test.

Happy Mesa, by Sky Mesa
Last 2 Beyers: 74-50

◗ Happy Mesa won a $40,000 claimer for maidens by 3 1/4 lengths at Laurel on Aug. 14 and her stakes debut in a 37-1 upset in the Selima Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf Sept. 10. She has won from the front and from off the pace, which should give jockey Florent Geroux options from an inside draw in this large field.