Santa Ana rematches top three from Astra Stakes
The first three finishers of the Astra Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in January are among the principal runners in Sunday’s Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf.
This time, the order of finish may not be the same.
Duvet Day won her first stakes in the Astra, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of stretch leader Queen Ofthe Temple. Australia Mia, a multiple stakes winner in Chile, was third in her American debut and first start since July.
The benefit of a start may boost Australia Mia’s chances in the $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes.
“I thought she ran well in her first race going a mile and a half,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “She seems to be holding her form. We’re looking for a repeat performance.”
A winner of 9 of 20 starts, Australia Mia was second for the first mile of the Astra before fading to lose by 3 1/2 lengths as the 8-5 favorite. Frankie Dettori rode Australia Mia in the Astra and has the mount in the Santa Ana.
The Astra was Australia Mia’s first start at 1 1/2 miles. In Chile, she won six consecutive stakes from February to June last year at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/4 miles.
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McCarthy also trains Duvet Day, who closed from eighth of nine to take a late lead in the Astra. Duvet Day has won three times, including twice at 1 3/8 miles.
“She may be best suited to races at a mile and a half,” McCarthy said.
Queen Ofthe Temple has won once in 11 starts, a maiden race last April. In the Astra Stakes, Queen Ofthe Temple closed from fourth to lead in the stretch, but was unable to keep pace with Duvet Day in the final furlong.
Last fall, Queen Ofthe Temple was third in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar, closing from off the pace despite a troubled trip.
“She’s been really consistent,” trainer Dan Blacker said. “She seems to be at her best right now, this year.”
Juan Hernandez, the leading rider at the current winter-spring meeting, rides Queen Ofthe Temple, who is likely to race from a tracking position.
“You have to ask her a little bit to get her into the race,” Blacker said. “She’s responsive to the rider.”
Queen Ofthe Temple was entered in an allowance race Saturday, but Blacker said the 5-year-old mare will race Sunday.
The Santa Ana drew a field of nine and will be the stakes debut for Buzz of New York, who has won two of her last four starts in allowance races since late October. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Buzz of New York won an allowance race at a mile last Sunday at 3-10 when ridden by Juan Hernandez.
Umberto Rispoli will ride Buzz of New York in the Santa Ana, the 5-year-old mare’s first start at 1 1/4 miles.
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