Taris and Stevens the team to beat in Santa Margarita
ARCADIA, Calif. – Gary Stevens has been aboard Taris for four races, time enough to learn the ideal way to handle her. That paid off last time out, when they won the Grade 2 La Canada, and Stevens believes some of the lessons learned that day could reap richer and more important dividends on Saturday, when Taris tries to get the first Grade 1 win of her career in the $500,000 Santa Margarita Stakes, the championship race of the Santa Anita meet for older females.
“She’s the type with so much natural speed that my job is just to let her get into a flow, get into a rhythm, and not light the afterburners too soon,” Stevens said Thursday at Santa Anita.
“I hate to compare her to Beholder,” Stevens said, referring to the three-time champ he rides who is nearing a return to action, “but their mindset and athleticism are similar.”
Taris, trained by Simon Callaghan, is a terrific sprinter, good enough to finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last fall. The 1 1/16-mile La Canada marked her first win going two turns, and now she will attempt 1 1/8 miles.
The Santa Margarita also features Penwith, who has shipped in from Florida for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, and Tara’s Tango, who captured the Grade 2 Santa Maria here last month. All runners carry 118 pounds.
Seven were entered in the Santa Margarita, but the field was reduced to six on Friday when Lavender Chrissie was scratched. It goes as race 9 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.
KEY CONTENDERS
Taris, by Flatter
Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-91
◗ She drew the outside post, which Stevens thought was beneficial. “I love where I drew,” he said. “Last time, we had to start our move a long ways out when she got pressure.”
He has more options Saturday owing to the outside draw.
Penwith, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 97-86-68
◗ She has won two straight, both at Gulfstream, most recently in the Grade 2 Royal Delta, and has been sent here in search of the first Grade 1 win of her career.
Tara’s Tango, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 94-95-75
◗ She wore down rivals to win the Santa Maria for her first stakes win.
◗ She occasionally has run in spots during races and often breaks slowly, so the blinkers she is adding could help her improve.
Living The Life, by Footstepsinthesand
Last 3 Beyers: 92-90-90
◗ Though most of her success has been on synthetic surfaces, she acquitted herself well last time out when finishing third behind Tara’s Tango in the Santa Maria.
◗ She drew the rail, and trainer Gary Mandella expects her to be forwardly placed.
“She doesn’t like dirt in her face – that’s why she wears goggles – so if she puts herself up there like in the Santa Maria, that would be fine,” Mandella said. “She’s got a little something to prove, but she ran really well the other day and deserves one more shot.”