Santa Anita: Cambina tries longer distance in Providencia

Cambina goes for her third consecutive stakes win of 2011 in the $150,000 Providencia Stakes on turf for 3-year-old fillies. The Providencia is run at 1 1/8 miles, but trainer Jeff Bonde said he thinks Cambina’s style will be suited to a longer trip.

“She just sits and makes a run,” Bonde said. “I don’t think she’ll have any problems. She’s trained very well for this race.”

Owned by a partnership, Cambina won the Grade 3 La Habra Stakes on the hillside turf course Feb. 21 and the China Doll Stakes over a mile March 13 under jockey Garrett Gomez, who retains the mount Saturday.

Cambina is part of a field of nine, which includes five horses who began their careers in Europe. Cambina was stakes-placed in Ireland last summer.

Eight of the nine fillies finished in the first three in their last starts, with the exception of True Way of Grace, who was sixth in the La Habra Stakes. She has returned to work well in recent weeks for trainer Alexis Barba.