Thegirlinthatsong tops eight likely for Santa Maria

There are eight fillies and mares expected to run in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita and all are stakes winners – Awesome Baby, Legacy, Sweet Marini, Thegirlinthatsong, Tiz Midnight, Valiant Emilia, Warren’s Veneda, and Yahilwa.

The field is led by Thegirlinthatsong, who won the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 17, and Warren’s Veneda, who won the minor Paseana Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on a wet-fast track on Jan. 11. The beaten favorite in the Paseana was Tiz Midnight, who finished sixth at 3-5 in her first start since a win in the Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 6.

Pedroza will sit out three days

Jockey Martin Pedroza will serve a three-day suspension this week for causing interference in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes last Saturday.

Pedroza was cited for his ride on Diamond Bachelor, who led into the stretch of the turf stakes at 1 1/4 miles. In the final furlong, Diamond Bachelor drifted to the outside, causing fourth-place finisher Power Foot to alter course.

The stewards disqualified Diamond Bachelor from second and placed him fourth, resulting in the promotion of Power Ped and Power Foot to second and third. Race winner Finnegans Wake rallied wide and was not involved in the incident.

Pedroza’s suspension runs from Saturday through Monday.