Vale Dori heavy favorite in Santa Maria Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Vale Dori’s four-race winning streak since late October has taken Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith by surprise.

“It’s amazing how much she’s changed,” Smith said Thursday. “When we first got her, she wanted to run off and be racy.”

A calm and collected Vale Dori will be heavily favored to win her third consecutive Grade 2 race in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum of Dubai, Vale Dori won the Bayakoa Handicap at Del Mar on Dec. 3 and the La Canada Stakes on Jan. 14. In both races, she was on or near the lead from the start, had a comfortable advantage in the stretch, and won by at least two lengths.

Vale Dori drew the outside post in a field of six for Saturday's race. The Santa Maria is the fourth race on a nine-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Vale Dori is the only graded stakes winner in a field that includes Show Stealer and Autumn Flower, who were second and third in the La Canada. Sheer Pleasure, a three-time stakes winner against California-breds, is not a definite starter, trainer Phil D’Amato said.

KEY CONTENDERS

Vale Dori, Asiatic Boy
Last 3 Beyers: 95-91-95

◗ Vale Dori has benefited from the absence of the champions Songbird and Stellar Wind from the wintertime stakes. They are expected to race this spring. Vale Dori was third behind Stellar Wind and the retired champion Beholder in the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes here last October.

◗ Smith rode Vale Dori in a workout shortly after she arrived from Dubai last spring.

“Bob has gotten her to relax,” Smith said. “She’s a different horse. It’s night and day. I’m hoping she runs another big one on Saturday.”

Show Stealer, by Eskendereya
Last 3 Beyers: 91-84-90

◗ Show Stealer is getting closer to Vale Dori. She was beaten 4 1/4 lengths in the Bayakoa but was only 2 1/2 lengths behind in the La Canada Stakes.

“She’s going to run big, this filly,” trainer Art Sherman said. “I like the way she’s coming into herself. She’s full of herself.

“I think I can win it. She’s really training well. It’s good timing for her. She should be good and tight, considering the weather situation. We’ve got some key works into her.”

Sheer Pleasure, by Birdonthewire
Last 3 Beyers: 87-77-85

◗ Sheer Pleasure was third in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs Jan. 21 in her first start since May. She won the Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares last March, her only win in six starts in 2016.

◗ D’Amato said he will wait until race day to decide whether Sheer Pleasure starts.

“If Vale Dori scratches, we have an excellent chance,” he said. “We entered to take a look and see what happens. I’ll play it by ear.”