St Trinians to take shot at Big Cap

ARCADIA, Calif. -- St Trinians, who captured the Santa Maria Handicap on Saturday, will be pointed to the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6 and take on males in her next start, trainer Mike Mitchell said Sunday.

The options for St Trinians were to either run there, or wait another week and take on Zenyatta in the Grade 1, $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational for fillies and mares.

"It looks like we're leaning toward the Big Cap," Mitchell said. "I lose a week, but when you look at who's going to run in the race, and the weights, it makes sense. She should get a few pounds in the handicap. The distance shouldn't bother her. I have to have three good weeks with her to do it."

The Big Cap is at 1 1/4 miles. No filly or mare has ever won the race. St Trinians has won all four of her starts in this country, all on synthetic surfaces, since arriving from Europe.

"I want to keep her on synthetic," Mitchell said.