Tara’s Tango primed for Angels Flight
ARCADIA, Calif. – Tara’s Tango had a testing start to her 3-year-old season when she finished second to Enchanting Lady in the minor Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita on April 5.
Racing for the first time since July, Tara’s Tango was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Enchanting Lady, who was timed in a quick 1:15.01 for 6 1/2 furlongs. For Tara’s Tango, the loss may have been an ideal tune-up for Saturday’s $75,000 Angels Flight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
Tara’s Tango has been held in high regard by Stonestreet Stable and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer since she beat maidens by 3 1/2 lengths at five furlongs in her debut at Del Mar last July. She did not start again until the Santa Paula, a loss that will make her the favorite for the Angels Flight, which drew a field of six.
The Angels Flight is the second of 11 races on a program that begins at 11:30 a.m. Pacific.
Angels Flight, race 2
KEY CONTENDERS
Tara’s Tango (Last 2 Beyers: 93-86)
◗ Mike Smith will ride Tara’s Tango, who is by Unbridled’s Song. The Angels Flight will be the longest race of Tara’s Tango’s career, which could include races around two turns in the coming months.
◗ Dan Ward, assistant to Hollendorfer, described the Santa Paula as a “good prep race. She went 6 1/2, and now she’s going seven. Hopefully, we can stretch her out.”
◗ In the Santa Paula, Tara’s Tango was fifth early and closed steadily to be second. She is likely to stalk the pace of Fantastic Style in the Angels Flight.
“I think you can put her where you want,” Ward said.
Fantastic Style (Last 3 Beyers: 74-82-93)
◗ Trained by Bob Baffert, Fantastic Style won consecutive starts in sprints in a maiden race and an optional claimer here in January and February before finishing third in the Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes at about seven furlongs at Keeneland on April 12.
◗ Fantastic Style, purchased for $525,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction of 2-year-olds in training in April 2014, races for Kaleem Shah. A quick filly, Fantastic Style has not been worse than third in four starts.
Ben’s Duchess (Last 3 Beyers: 85-87-64)
◗ Ben’s Duchess was third of six runners in the Santa Paula Stakes in her first start since December. The filly was third throughout and was beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Enchanting Lady.
◗ Joe Talamo has the mount on Ben’s Duchess in the Angels Flight, replacing Drayden Van Dyke, who is riding on Saturday at Pimlico.