Sensitively seeks first stakes win in Santa Paula

ARCADIA, Calif. – There was little effort or suspense when Sensitively made her debut in a sprint for maidens Feb. 21 at Santa Anita. She took the early lead and drew off by 9 1/4 lengths, with little urging in the final sixteenth by jockey Joe Talamo.

“I don’t think anyone has seen what she can do,” trainer Phil D’Amato said Thursday. “In the last 50 yards, he had her in hand. It was like a workout.”

Sensitively will need a more stringent effort in her stakes debut in Sunday’s $75,000 Santa Paula Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita. She is part of a field of six that includes the stakes winner Enchanting Lady; Tara’s Tango, a sharp maiden winner at Del Mar last July; Ben’s Duchess, a maiden winner in December; and Rattataptap, the winner of an optional claimer in January.

Sensitively, bred by owner John Liviakis, figures to be a strong favorite.

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Key contenders

Sensitively (Last Beyer: 91)

* By Street Sense, Sensitively is likely to be on the front in the Santa Paula. D’Amato said the filly has natural speed, an asset he wants to employ. He said he has seen further progress in her condition in the weeks since the maiden win.

“We’ll let her do her thing,” D’Amato said. “She’s actually trained better. As good as she trained going into it, Joe said she’s got so many gears it’s scary.”

* There is a chance Sensitively could go from the Santa Paula to the $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs on May 1, D’Amato said.

Tara’s Tango (Last Beyer: 86)

* In the opening weeks of the 2014 Del Mar summer meeting, Tara’s Tango had one of the best performances by a 2-year-old in winning her debut by 3 1/2 lengths. That was her only start of 2014.

“A little bit after, she had a small problem, and it took her time to get over it,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. He did not elaborate on the nature of the injury.

* In recent weeks, Tara’s Tango has shown quick workouts, including six furlongs in 1:13 on March 17 and in 1:12.40 on March 22.

“She’s been working very well, and we’re hoping for a big run,” Hollendorfer said. “We’re ready.”

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Ben’s Duchess (Last 2 Beyers: 87-64)

* Ben’s Duchess beat maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs in her second career start here last December but had a sore foot that briefly kept her out of training earlier this year, trainer John Sadler said.

“She broke her maiden really nicely,” Sadler said. “We lost a little time with her. It took her time to recover. Now, she’s back training very well. I’m ready to go.”

* Ben’s Duchess raced from a tracking position in her maiden win, and Sadler said he is “very comfortable” with a similar scenario in the Santa Paula.