Santa Margarita lures trio of stakes-winning shippers

ARCADIA, Calif. – With the local older fillies and mares lacking a clear-cut leader until two-time champion Beholder gets back to the races, a number of runners from out of state are set to invade Santa Anita for Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Margarita Stakes, the championship race of the meet for the division.

Cassatt, Dame Dorothy, and Frivolous – all stakes winners in their last starts – were expected to head west for the Santa Margarita, to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

Cassatt, trained by Larry Jones, has won three straight stakes, including the Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston on Jan. 24. Her regular rider, Kerwin Clark, was expected to ride Cassatt.

Dame Dorothy, the winner of the Sunshine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream in her last start Jan. 17, was confirmed for the race by trainer Todd Pletcher, who said Rafael Bejarano would be aboard. Dame Dorothy has won five times in six starts, but her lone loss came in her only try at 1 1/8 miles.

Frivolous has not raced since capturing the Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs in November.

The local contingent is headed by Warren’s Veneda, who has captured two straight stakes, including last month’s Grade 2 Santa Maria, the major prep for the Santa Margarita. Tyler Baze is her rider.

Others expected for the Santa Margarita include Legacy, Thegirlinthatsong, Tiz Midnight, and possibly Yahilwa.

Also Saturday is the $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes, at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course for California-bred females. A small field is expected, headed by Go West Marie, who won the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint last time out. Others expected for the Irish O’Brien are Qiaona and Velvet Mesquite.