Monte Crista streaks into Ta Wee Stakes

Yes, she got a perfect ground-saving trip, and yes, she was only beating fellow Maryland-breds, but Monte Crista was undeniably impressive winning an allowance race June 23 at Laurel Park, and she has a decent chance to run her turf record to four wins from four starts in the $100,000 Ta Wee Stakes on Thursday at Indiana Grand.

The Ta Wee is for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf, and horses came from all over the place looking for some black type. The 12 horses in the field’s main body (there are two also-eligibles) last started at nine different racetracks.

Monte Crista had a practice race in a dirt sprint in her career debut before moving to turf, and has since won three times by open lengths, scoring twice at Laurel and shipping into Monmouth to capture a first-level allowance race. In her most recent start she sat chilly on the fence just behind the speed under Julian Pimentel, found room two paths out past the quarter pole, and instantly jumped on the leader after Pimentel threw a couple crosses. In a matter of strides, Monte Crista had opened daylight and Pimentel quickly went quiet, allowing the filly to take him easily home.

“If you watched her last two races she did it very easily,” trainer Mike Trombetta said. “These are better horses, but I think she’s very much ready for it.”

Sirenusa probably rates an equally strong chance. She debuted March 17 at Fair Grounds for trainer Joe Sharp, won a turf sprint, then captured a first-level allowance at Keeneland and was comfortably best in the Northbound Pride Oaks at Canterbury Park. Canterbury is the home track of owners Barry and Joni Butzow, and that was a prime motivator for running Sirenusa back in the Lady Canterbury Stakes against older horses on June 23. Sirenusa finished a solid second facing her elders and was flattered when the Lady Canterbury fourth, Lovely Loyree, returned to win the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff on Saturday night.

“She’s quick enough that she won sprinting, but I don’t think she’s limited either,” Sharp said. “She’s a big filly, and we had to be patient with her, turn her out and bring her back as an early 3-year-old, but it’s paid dividends. She’s doing really well.”

Adam Beschizza has the mount, his first ride since spending about a week in his native England, Sharp said.

Stave appears to be the other key contenderin the Ta Wee. Trained by Larry Jones, she won a Keeneland turf maiden by almost seven lengths in April, cleared her first allowance condition next out at Churchill, and was undone by a combination of post 13 and trouble when eighth last out in the Grade 3 Regret Stakes at Churchill.

The Ta Wee is race 7 on a nine-race Thursday program at Indiana Grand.