Sea Mona, Desert Steel look like runners in debuts

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Sea Mona will start her career in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita on Thursday with high expectations from trainer Adam Kitchingman.

Sea Mona is a half-sister to Let Em Shine, who won the Came Home Stakes for Kitchingman at Hollywood Park last year. Sea Mona, who breaks from the rail in a field of eight, might be just as good, her trainer said.

“She’s training excellent,” Kitchingman said. “I couldn’t be happier with her. I think she’ll like the inside post as long as she breaks. She’s good at the gate.”

By Tiz Wonderful, Sea Mona was purchased for $82,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. She races for Firsthome Thoroughbreds.

Kitchingman said he expects Sea Mona to be tested by Desert Steel, a Desert Code filly who drew the outside post.

Desert Steel is trained by Simon Callaghan and was purchased for $130,000 at the Barretts March sale of 2-year-olds in training this year. She races for Alice Bamford and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Callaghan said he was encouraged by Desert Steel’s half-mile workout in 46.40 seconds from the gate last Friday, the fastest of 49 works at the distance.

“She can run,” Callaghan said. “We’ve liked her from Day 1. She’s shown us the right signals, and we expect her to run a good race.”

All eight of the 2-year-old fillies in the race are first-time starters. Other starters with quick recent workouts are Yes She’s a Dancer, trained by Walther Solis; American Charm, trained by Nicholas Acuna; and Abets Abet, trained by Mike Harrington.

◗ Kitchingman said Let Em Shine was recently turned out. The 4-year-old has not raced since finishing 13th in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga last August.