Selcourt not the sole speed in Santa Monica

ARCADIA, Calif. – From an outside post in a small field of five, Selcourt should be well positioned to control Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita.

Selcourt will need every advantage at jockey Tyler Baze’s disposal to beat two talented rivals in Paradise Woods and Skye Diamonds in the seven-furlong race.

Selcourt is quick. She disputed the pace in the Kalookan Queen Stakes in January and the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes last month and won both races. The problem facing Baze and trainer John Sadler in the Santa Monica is that Flavien Prat may employ the same tactics on Paradise Woods.

Chances are Baze and Prat will follow each other’s moves closely through the initial quarter-mile of the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes.

“Tyler has been on her every time and he knows her well and what she is capable of,” Sadler said of Selcourt.

“You can’t let them have an easy lead. That won’t work. You don’t want to get caught in a speed duel.

“These are quality speed horses. It will be a jockey’s race, no doubt.”

If the pace is too quick, Skye Diamonds could benefit. She is a major threat from just off the pace, having won two graded stakes last summer.

Skye Diamonds was third in the Las Flores Stakes in her first start since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar last November. The Santa Monica Stakes will be the first start for Paradise Woods since a second to Unique Bella in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs on Dec. 26.

The Santa Monica Stakes field includes Marley’s Freedom and Just a Little Hope, who were fourth and fifth in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on Dec. 26. A win by one of them on Saturday would be a surprise.

The Santa Monica, for fillies and mares, is race 5 on Saturday’s 10-race program, which begins at noon Pacific. The Grade 2, $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf is the ninth race.

KEY CONTENDERS

Selcourt, by Tiz Wonderful
Last 3 Beyers: 100-96-86

◗ The six-furlong Las Flores was the graded stakes debut for Selcourt, who races for a partnership that includes breeder Keith Abrahams. The Santa Monica will be Selcourt’s first start at seven furlongs since a third to Faypien in the Angels Flight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies last May.

“I think she’s good at any distance under a mile right now,” Sadler said. “I’m talking about stretching her out in the longer term. This is part of the progression.”

◗ The presence of Paradise Woods was very much on Sadler’s mind on Thursday.

“The question is Paradise Woods,” he said. “She is very, very good, but we’re in a good spot. We have recency and we have a good post to enhance that.”

Skye Diamonds, by First Dude
Last 3 Beyers: 99-87-97

◗ Skye Diamonds won the Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred female milers at this time last year. She later won the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos and Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar in the summer, rallying from just off the pace in both.

A similar scenario may develop in the Santa Monica.

“She’ll be closing,” trainer Bill Spawr said. “She’s in against two very good fillies. I hope they’re going pretty fast to help us out at the end.”

◗ Spawr said Skye Diamonds “needed the race” in the Las Flores.

“She came out of it in great shape,” he said.

“I do feel she’ll go forward. She’ll have to. This is a Grade 2. She’ll have to improve.”

Paradise Woods, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 97-95-101

◗ Paradise Woods won two Grade 1 races at 1 1/16 miles last year – the Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies in April and the Zenyatta Stakes against fillies and mares in October. She was later third in the BC Distaff at Del Mar in November.

◗ After the La Brea, trainer Richard Mandella intended to run Paradise Woods in two-turn races in February and March, a plan foiled when the 4-year-old filly was briefly ill and then had a minor issue with a foot.

“I think she’s in very good shape and ready to go,” Mandella said. “This is a race that gets me back in the game.

“More than likely, I think she’s better going longer. We’ll see if she’s as good a sprinter as they are.”