Taris, Birdatthewire at top of game for La Canada
ARCADIA, Calif. – Birdatthewire and Taris will start in Saturday’s $200,000 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita following stakes-winning performances in late 2015.
The victories rate among the finest outings of their respective careers. Birdatthewire won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, four weeks after Taris won the Grade 3 Go for Wand Stakes at a mile at Aqueduct.
The Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at 1 1/16 miles provides a new test for Birdatthewire and Taris. Birdatthewire tries to win for the first time outside of her age group. Taris will be trying to win the longest race of her career.
They are part of a field of seven that includes Yahilwa, who has not raced since finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland in October. Those three runners figure to dominate the betting in a race that will determine the rankings of the older fillies and mares in Southern California, at least until the two-time champion Beholder makes an expected return to racing in the spring.
KEY CONTENDERS
Taris (Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-92)
◗ Taris won the Go for Wand Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths, racing near the front throughout. For the La Canada, Taris has drawn the outside post, which trainer Simon Callaghan said is not a concern. Taris, 5, is expected to set the pace.
“It’s a good post,” Callaghan said. “She’s got speed, and I think she’ll be on the lead.”
◗ Taris was fifth in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park in 2014 when trained by Todd Beattie, her only try at the 1 1/16-mile distance. Since then, she has won four of seven starts.
“I think stretching her out at this point of the game makes a lot of sense,” Callaghan said. “She’s been really good in her works.”
◗ Taris joined Callaghan’s stable after being purchased for $2.35 million at Keeneland in November 2014. Taris is owned by Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier, and Derrick Smith.
Birdatthewire (Last 3 Beyers: 89-82-73)
◗ Birdatthewire was trained by Dale Romans for the La Brea Stakes and has been based with Tom Proctor for the last month.
◗ A winner of 4 of 11 starts, Birdatthewire has won 2 of 4 starts at 1 1/16 miles, including the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks last March. She was later fifth in the Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles.
◗ A fast pace by Taris would benefit Birdatthewire, who races from off the pace. She closed from last of nine to win the La Brea Stakes, taking the lead in the final strides.
Yahilwa (Last 3 Beyers: 89-98-85)
◗ Yahilwa was a game third in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland on Oct. 4, fighting for the lead throughout before losing by a neck to Get Lucky. Yahilwa was not as successful in the BC Distaff. Sent off at 19-1, she was near the lead on the turn but faded to finish 6 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Stopchargingmaria.
◗ A stalker, Yahilwa has won two stakes. A victory in the La Canada would be the most prestigious of her career.
◗ Trainer Jim Cassidy said Yahilwa will be close to Taris. He is hopeful that jockey Mike Smith can coax Yahilwa into being patient for the first half of the race.
“I know Callaghan’s got the speed of the race,” he said. “The best-case scenario is to take hold of her, but you can’t take too much of a hold because she gets rank.”