Stakes winners meet in Santa Ynez

ARCADIA, Calif. – A continent apart, Artistic Diva and Win the War had similar 2-year-old seasons.

Artistic Diva beat maidens on turf at Del Mar in August in her first start and won the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 22 in her second start. Win the War also is unbeaten after two races, having won a maiden race on turf at Woodbine on Oct. 20, and the Glorious Song Stakes there on Nov. 19.

Win the War has been shipped from Florida, where she has been training, to California for Sunday’s Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Artistic Diva is based at Santa Anita and also runs in the Santa Ynez.

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That may be Artistic Diva’s only advantage against Win the War in the $200,000 Santa Ynez. Artistic Diva will break from the inside in a field of nine, a draw that concerns trainer John Sadler.

“I’d like a different post, but I can’t do anything about it,” he said.

The Santa Ynez has one other stakes winner, Steph Being Steph, who won the Golden Gate Debutante on Nov. 24. Yesterday’s News was second in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 9, while Midnight Bisou was beaten a nose when second in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 18.

The Santa Ynez Stakes will be the first start in a stakes for Allianna and War Heroine, who are trained by Peter Miller and won maiden races at Del Mar in November.

KEY CONTENDERS

Artistic Diva, by Munnings
Beyers: 76-66

◗ Artistic Diva is quick and expected to be prominent from the start under jockey Victor Espinoza. Sadler is concerned there could be too much pace.

“I’ll leave it up to Victor and see what trip she gets,” he said.

◗ Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Artistic Diva led throughout the Anoakia Stakes at six furlongs, winning by 2 1/4 lengths. In her debut, Artistic Diva overcame a slow start to win a maiden race at five furlongs.

Win the War, by War Front
Beyers: 93-61

◗ The Santa Ynez Stakes will be the first race on dirt for Win the War, who won the Glorious Song Stakes on a synthetic track. Win the War trains on dirt in Florida.

◗ Owned by Gary Barber and John Oxley and trained by Mark Casse, Win the War rallied wide to win her debut on turf by a neck.

“When I sent her to Woodbine, I thought she was on the special side,” Casse said.

◗ Sent off at 9-2 in the Glorious Song, Win the War closed from fourth in a field of six to win by 11 1/4 lengths over Grace and Dignity, the 1-5 favorite.

“I thought we had a shot to beat her, but to beat her the way she did surprised me,” Casse said.

“I like the seven-eighths. I want to run her on the dirt. I think if she handles the dirt, they have to beat her.”