Santa Anita: Indigo River kicks clear in Sweet Life Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Indigo River has outgrown Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

After winning her American stakes debut in Sunday’s $73,950 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside course, Indigo River will race around two turns for her next start in the $150,000 Providencia Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf April 7, trainer Jeff Mullins said.

Sunday’s race was Indigo River’s second start in this country, preceded by a win in an optional claimer on the hillside Jan. 13. She was the winner of a maiden race in Ireland last August.

The win on Sunday left Mullins impressed and ready to try more lucrative races.

“I think she moved forward off her last race,” Mullins said.

In the Sweet Life Stakes, Indigo River ($5.20) closed from sixth to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Vionnet. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Indigo River emerged between fillies in early stretch and kicked clear in the final furlong. Indigo River ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:13.36.

Vionnet finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of 17-1 Dypsy, the longest shot in the field of seven.

Indigo River has won 3 of 5 starts and $98,106. An Irish-bred filly by the Danehill stallion Kodiac, Indigo River has raced for Michael House since she arrived in the United States.