Noted and Quoted, Bitzka meet again in sprint feature

DEL MAR, Calif. – Neither Noted and Quoted nor Bitzka has won a race since they met in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes last fall at Santa Anita. Noted and Quoted won the race, but is winless in four starts since. Bitzka finished sixth that day, but has a decent excuse for not having won since then – she hasn’t raced since then.

Bitzka and Noted and Quoted meet Thursday in the featured seventh race at Del Mar, a second-level allowance sprint for females that drew a fairly strong field for the level. Bitzka is trying to successfully return from a lengthy layoff, while Noted and Quoted is looking to return to her best form.

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They have several worthy rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong race, most notably Avicii, who was a gallant second to the white-hot Mended going two turns here last month and now returns to a sprint, her best trip.

Bob Baffert, who trains Noted and Quoted, also sends out Fact of Life, who returned from a seven-month layoff to win a first-level allowance July 13 at Los Alamitos.

Run for Retts also looks dangerous. She is likely best as a late-running sprinter, and her last race is a throw-out, as she reared just before the gate opened and was declared a non-starter.

Eight are entered in the $65,000 race.

KEY CONTENDERS

Noted and Quoted, by The Factor

Last 3 Beyers: 62-89-62

◗ Although she won going 1 1/16 miles in the Chandelier, she has performed poorly in three subsequent route races. Her best performance since the Chandelier was in the seven-furlong Angels Fight on May 14, a second to stablemate Faypien.

“I wanted to try her on the turf, but five furlongs here is too short, and I didn’t want to run a mile because she just doesn’t respond going two turns,” Baffert said.

Bitzka, by Tiago

Beyers: 69-69-66

◗ She won her first two starts, both sprinting, prior to the Chandelier.

◗ Her trainer, John Sadler, said she got sick when sent to Belterra late last year for a stakes race for Ohio-breds, then she injured a knee, hence the vacation.

Fact of Life, by The Factor

Last 3 Beyers: 82-64-82

◗ She has never finished out of the money in four sprints, with two wins, both at Los Alamitos where she trains.

Avicii, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 85-83-88

◗ She has finished first or second in all six of her races at Del Mar, and with 18 top-two finishes in 32 lifetime starts, she always can be counted on for an honest effort.

Run for Retts, by Ministers Wild Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 65-83-72

◗ In her last sprint, June 25 at Santa Anita, she rallied late to nose out Avicii for second.