Stoic Luna ‘back on her home turf' for Miss America

After two failed trips to Santa Anita in October and November, the 5-year-old mare Stoic Luna starts in more familiar surroundings in Sunday’s $50,000 Miss America Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares at Golden Gate Fields.

A return to Northern California can give Stoic Luna her sixth win of 2023 in the main race on the final day of the Golden Gate Fields autumn meeting.

The Miss America Stakes is the ninth race on a 10-race program that includes a mandatory payout in the 20-cent Golden pick six, which covers the last six races.

The Miss America is far from a graded stakes, such as the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 7. Stoic Luna finished seventh of eight in that race. The Miss America has not drawn the national or international shippers that were part of the Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes for female turf sprinters on Nov. 3. Stoic Luna was last of 11 in that field.

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“Stoic Luna is back on her home turf and doesn’t have to ship,” trainer Jack Steiner said. “She’ll run against easier horses than we faced at Santa Anita.”

The Miss America Stakes was scheduled for turf, but was switched to the synthetic main track before entries were taken on Thursday because of mid-week rain

The surface switch has not deterred participation. There are nine entrants.

Stoic Luna is the only 2023 stakes winner in the field, having won the Golden Gate Turf Distaff at 1 1/16 miles in September. In June, Stoic Luna won an allowance race at a mile on the synthetic track, closing from fourth in a field of six.

The manner of that win could be a factor in the Miss America, which includes several fillies capable of leading.

Anthonys Cleopatra will not be far from the front. She was second by a neck after setting the pace in the Washington Cup Filly and Mare Stakes at Emerald Downs at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 17 in her most recent start.

Longshots such as Callhercontessa and Ladywearsthering can set the pace in the Miss America, and provide targets for Stoic Luna, Anthonys Cleopatra, and Signorina Merisi, a three-time winner on the synthetic track this year.

After Sunday’s program, Golden Gate Fields will conduct a winter-spring meeting from Dec. 26 through June 9, which could be the last in track history.

Last July, 1/ST Racing, which owns Golden Gate Fields, as well as Santa Anita in Southern California, announced that Sunday’s program would be the last at Golden Gate Fields before the track is sold for development.

At the encouragement of the California Horse Racing Board, Golden Gate Fields was urged earlier this year to conduct a winter-spring meeting. Racing dates for Northern California have been set for 2024 only through early September and part of October.

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