Tanda tough after romp in last

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Tanda enjoyed her six-week stay as top filly sprinter in Southern California. Sunday at Hollywood Park, it is time to get back to work.

Tanda meets a good field of 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 3, seven-furlong Railbird Stakes. If she reproduces her smashing last-start victory, the others are running for second.

"I wasn't shocked she won, just surprised she won so easily," trainer Dan Hendricks said, referring to a 4 1/4-length blowout March 28 in the Grade 3 Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita. Tanda earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97 racing 6 1/2 furlongs, and the way she ran suggests another half-furlong is no trouble.

"I wasn't sure she would settle," Hendricks said, "but she settled nicely." Alex Solis has ridden Tanda in all five of her starts, including three wins. Before relocating to Kentucky, Solis asked Hendricks if he could return to California to ride her back. Yes, of course.

Hendricks said Tanda may target the Grade 1 Acorn on June 5 at Belmont, or the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks on June 6 for her next start. First she must overcome her second straight rail draw Sunday, against a large field filled with quality.

Grade 1-placed Switch and All Due Respect, likely pacesetter Crisis of Spirit, horse-for-course Southern Fireball, and highly regarded Vision in Gold are her main rivals in the 10-filly field.

Switch set the pace and faded March 20 in the Grade 2 Bonnie Miss at Gulfstream Park.

"We didn't get the trip we wanted," trainer John Sadler said. "We made the lead by default; we need to get her off the pace."

Joel Rosario is reunited with Switch, who drew the outside.

"Perfect," Sadler said. "The idea is to get her off the pace. We just want a horse in front of her." Switch, a close third behind Blind Luck and Evening Jewel one start back, has worked super for her return to a sprint.

Crisis of Spirit, who set a fast pace and tired in the Santa Paula, figures to make the lead. With a prep race under her belt she could be gone. All Due Respect, runner-up in the Santa Anita Oaks, subsequently displaced her palate and finished fourth in the Grade 2 Fantasy.

Vision in Gold will take back and make a run while prepping for the two-turn Hollywood Oaks. Seriously, Church Camp, Win for M'Lou and Stockings also entered.