Santa Anita: Sushi Empire gives dirt a try in Las Virgenes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sushi Empire was expected to run well when she became the first stakes winner of 2014 in California in the Blue Norther Stakes on turf Jan. 1.

Sushi Empire had established turf form and ran accordingly as a 3-1 shot in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. How she will fare in Saturday’s $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes on the main track is less clear.

Trained by Eoin Harty for Chip McEwen’s Wounded Warrior Stable, Sushi Empire will race on dirt for the first time in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes over a mile. Harty said Tuesday that he was encouraged by Sushi Empire’s five-furlong workout in 1:00.80 on Monday.

“She trained on the dirt in Florida prior to coming to me, and they said she handled it well,” Harty said.

“She seemed to handle it well in a workout on Monday. It’s not the surface, it’s the kickback. She should be forwardly placed, so that should help.”

By Empire Maker, Sushi Empire will be ridden for the first time by Victor Espinoza. Corey Nakatani rode Sushi Empire in the Blue Norther, but will ride the Harty-trained Arethusa, who won the Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park in November.

Harty said Sushi Empire was a late addition to the nominees for the Las Virgenes, but that he always had the race as goal for Arethusa in recent weeks.

The Las Virgenes has a strong field, led by Streaming, winner of the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park on Dec. 7. Arethusa was a troubled fifth in the Starlet after a poor start.

Other projected starters in the Las Virgenes are Artemis, Fashion Plate, Taste Like Candy, and possibly Awesome Baby.