Santa Anita: Fashion Plate's win in Las Virgenes kicks off big month for Callaghan

ARCADIA, Calif. – With 3-year-olds and a veteran older horse racing on turf, trainer Simon Callaghan could have a memorable first half of February.

The month had an ideal start for the stable when Fashion Plate won her stakes debut in Saturday’s $300,500 Las Virgenes Stakes, a Grade 1 for 3-year-old fillies. Next Saturday, Callaghan’s Slim Shadey can win the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf for a record third consecutive year. On Feb. 16, Callaghan starts the promising maiden winner Cherubim in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds over seven furlongs.

Since the current meeting began Dec. 26, Fashion Plate has been the star filly for Callaghan’s stable. She won a six-furlong maiden race by 6 1/2 lengths in her third career start Dec. 29 and handled the one-mile distance of the Las Virgenes without difficulty.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, Fashion Plate ($11.40) led throughout the Las Virgenes, setting a decent pace of 23.19 and 46.26 seconds through the first half-mile. Fashion Plate held off a late run from even-money favorite Streaming to win by a half-length. Streaming was beaten for the first time in her three-race career, having won the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet in December.

Fashion Plate, by Old Fashioned, races for Michael Tabor and Arnold Zetcher.

“It’s hard to be confident going into a Grade 1,” Callaghan said. “We thought she would have a good shot. The way the race unfolded, she had to do it the hard way. She didn’t want to let that horse go by. It’s nice to have a horse that courageous.”

Callaghan said Fashion Plate will skip the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes, a Grade 3 over 1 1/16 miles on March 1, in favor of the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on April 5.

“There is no sense in running in the next race,” he said.

Slim Shadey, 6, won the San Marcos in 2012 and 2013 and won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship in 2012. In five starts over 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita, Slim Shadey has won four times, beginning with an optional claimer in January 2012.

“He’s better at a mile and a quarter,” Callaghan said. “It’s a good distance for him.”

Owned by Phil Cunningham of England, Slim Shadey was second to San Marcos entrant Jeranimo in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf Jan. 4.

“He ran well last time to run second to Jeranimo,” Callaghan said. “He was the better horse on the day.”

Aside from Jeranimo and Slim Shadey, other candidates for the San Marcos are Artic North, Dubai You X Y Z, Lucayan, Mr T Bird, Temeraine, Vagabond Shoes, and Would You.

On Sunday, Callaghan worked Cherubim a half-mile in 46.80 seconds. Owned by Gerald Frankel, Cherubim won a maiden race over six furlongs as a 20-1 outsider Dec. 28.

In the San Vicente, Cherubim will face Indianapolis, the unbeaten winner of the San Pedro Stakes on Jan. 20.