Santa Anita handicapping roundup: Week of March 8

True test for Awesome Baby

Awesome Baby hinted at big ability last summer, but when she routed in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes here, her supposed steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, it was a disaster as she dueled for the lead and fizzled.

Her connections skipped the Breeders’ Cup, and she won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez here, a sprint, earlier this meet. So, last Saturday’s Grade 3 Santa Ysabel was a chance for the daughter of Awesome Again to try a route again.

Well, it worked. She bounced out to a clear lead in the 1 1/16-mile race, took some pressure down the backstretch, and gradually extended her advantage. Trainer Bob Baffert has said that she’s a light-framed filly who may do best with time between starts, so there’s no guarantee she’ll run in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 5.

In the Santa Ysabel, she was able to control the pace and caught a wet-fast surface that she appeared to relish. And the competition was moderate. If she runs in the Santa Anita Oaks, she could face new stablemate Ria Antonia, who won the BC Juvenile Fillies; last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, She’s a Tiger; multiple Grade 1-placed Taste Like Candy; and Grade 1 Las Virgenes winner Fashion Plate. In other words, it would be a much tougher assignment.

Jockey news

Jockey Erick Lopez, a winner of 13 races at Turf Paradise, plans to ride here later this year. The son of East Coast-based jockey C.C. Lopez, the 26-year-old Lopez rode some here last year and was a regular exercise rider for Baffert.

Irving Orozco began his stint as a journeyman Feb. 28. The 20-year-old had won 16 races at the meet through Sunday to sit ninth in the standings.
The stewards have been busy doling out punishment to riders of late. Agapito Delgadillo has been suspended three days (this Sunday, Thursday, and Friday) for causing interference on Ryderroo in the first race Feb. 23, resulting in the disqualification of his mount from first to second. Jose Valdivia Jr. was suspended three days (March 2, 6, and 7) for failing to maintain a straight course in the stretch on Fast Moka Too in the same race. Fernando Perez was suspended three days (March 6, 7, 8) for causing interference aboard Born Lucky in Thursday’s fifth race (disqualified from first to second).

Taking inventory

◗ John Sadler said the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 15 might be next for Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes winner Kobe’s Back, while Grade 3 Sham runner-up Kristo is on target for Saturday’s Grade 2 San Felipe.

◗ Secret Circle, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint here in the fall and a sharp second in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes here Feb. 2, might be ready for some big frequent-flier miles. According to Baffert, he is a candidate for the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 29.

◗ Multiple graded turf stakes winner Bright Thought is getting closer to his return as he continues to work for trainer Jorge Gutierrez.

◗ Fashion Plate, who won the Las Virgenes Stakes here Feb. 1, continues to train forwardly for trainer Simon Callaghan and is targeting the Santa Anita Oaks.

◗ The Grade 1 Kilroe Mile, part of the big Santa Anita Handicap card Saturday, figures to be terrific. Among those expected to run are Winning Prize, the winner of the Grade 2 Arcadia here Feb. 1; Silentio, second, beaten a nose in this race last year and the winner of the Grade 2 Citation at Hollywood Park on Nov. 29; and Suggestive Boy, recently fifth in the Arcadia in his first start since taking the Kilroe Mile here last March.

◗ Sweet Swap, a full brother to Grade 1 winner Sidney’s Candy, might be ready to make a splash as a turf sprinter. He was an impressive winner of the Joe Hernandez Stakes down the hill Feb. 23 and has Sadler thinking about pointing him for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

◗ Runaway Que attracted 10 claims in Friday’s opener. Bob Hess Jr. won the shake for the 3-year-old gelding, who won as the 3-5 favorite for a $16,000 tag.