Sweet Marini seeks a confidence-building win in optional-claiming feature
CYPRESS, Calif. – Sweet Marini has yet to live up to expectations following an electrifying win in a maiden race in her debut at Santa Anita in November 2012.
She was purchased privately by Kaleem Shah following that race and has since won 2 of 9 starts, including the Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar in July 2013.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Sweet Marini. Trainer Bob Baffert is 46-10-4-7 with a $1.01 ROI over the past two years going synthetic to dirt in sprints with less than 45 days between starts. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Much more was expected. Perhaps the 2015 season will be the best in Sweet Marini’s career. Trainer Bob Baffert is looking toward an optional claimer at Los Alamitos on Thursday as a prep race for upcoming stakes.
Sweet Marini is part of a field of eight in Thursday’s optional claimer over 5 1/2 furlongs.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sweet Marini (Last 3 Beyers: 86-57-87)
◗ Sweet Marini was second in the Betty Grable Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at Del Mar on Nov. 9, leading in the stretch before finishing a half-length behind More Complexity. Prior to that race, Sweet Marini was a well-beaten fifth as the even-money favorite in an optional claimer over six furlongs at Santa Anita on Oct. 5.
◗ Baffert expects Sweet Marini to run well Thursday and hopefully end a five-race losing streak.
“She lost her confidence,” Baffert said. “Thursday is a good race. Hopefully, she can regain her form.”
Lotta Attitude (Last 3 Beyers: 67-55-64)
◗ A 3-year-old filly, Lotta Attitude was claimed for $40,000 in her last two starts, by Richard Baltas at Del Mar in August and by current trainer Ron Ellis at Santa Anita on Oct. 3. At Santa Anita, Lotta Attitude raced over a mile on turf, leading to the eighth pole before finishing third by four lengths.
◗ Ellis has a sharp record of winning with horses whom he has claimed.
Unforgettable U (Beyers: 63-86)
◗ The least-experienced horse in the field, Unforgettable U is one of two runners with a win over the track. Trained by Carl O’Callaghan, Unforgettable U won a maiden race over 5 1/2 furlongs here in September in her debut. She was sixth of 10 in the Harvest Stakes at the Big Fresno Fair on Oct. 11, setting the pace for the first half-mile before fading from contention.
Margie’s Minute (Last 3 Beyers: 75-78-41)
◗ A quick filly, Margie’s Minute led throughout a maiden race here Sept. 13, scoring a 34-1 upset. In her only subsequent start, she was sixth in an optional claimer on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Oct. 31.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Twelve Folds. Trainer Kristin Mulhall is 24-4-0-5 with a $5.76 ROI over the past five years going turf to dirt in sprints. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan