Stakes race could be in Perfect Pic's future

Perfect Pic won her first start around two turns in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Friday, leading trainer Jim Cassidy to contemplate a stakes start around two turns for the 4-year-old filly.

Perfect Pic ($4.20) led throughout the optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles, holding off a late threat from Lady Tapit to win by a half-length. Owned by Deron Pearson, Perfect Pic was third in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs here in October but was a disappointing sixth of eight in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies on Dec. 26.

Sprints are not likely to figure in the plans for Perfect Pic in the near future. Cassidy was surprised that she led throughout Friday in her fifth career start.

“This isn’t what she wants to do,” Cassidy said. “She had to get a little tired. There wasn’t a lot of speed in there.”

Perfect Pic, by Candy Ride, may start in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 11.

◗ Following Monday’s program, there is no live racing at Santa Anita until Friday, the start of a three-day racing weekend.

The lone stakes next weekend is the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs on Saturday. Finest City, the upset winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint here on Nov. 5, is scheduled to start in the Grade 2 Santa Monica.
The nominees include Constellation, the winner of the La Brea.