Vasilika, Fahan Mura to meet again in Goldikova Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Vasilika and Fahan Mura will meet for the second time in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita next Sunday. Both fillies had their final workouts on Sunday.

Vasilika, who won the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes on Sept. 29 for her seventh consecutive victory, worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Vasilika won the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on Sept. 1, a race in which Fahan Mura finished third after setting the pace.

Fahan Mura, trained by Vladimir Cerin, worked five furlongs in 1:01.60. Fahan Mura won the restricted Swingtime Stakes at a mile on turf here Oct. 7, her second win in a restricted stakes race this year. At Del Mar in July, Fahan Mura won the Osunitas Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

The $200,000 Goldikova Stakes is one of two Grade 2 races on the final day of the Santa Anita autumn meeting. The $200,000 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf is the co-feature.

Kazan, second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2 in his graded stakes debut, is a candidate for the Twilight Derby. Trained by Simon Callaghan, Kazan has been a workmate in recent weeks for Bellafina, the favorite for Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs.

Fuentes suspended, Gaines fined

Jockey Ruben Fuentes has been suspended five racing days for causing interference that led to his mount being disqualified from first to fourth in the sixth race last Thursday. Fuentes was cited for his ride on Ultimate Bango, who failed to maintain a straight course in the stretch, stewards said.

The suspension covers the final three days of the Santa Anita meeting, Friday through Sunday, and the first two days of the Del Mar autumn meeting, Nov. 9-10.

Through Saturday, Fuentes, 21, had won two races from 29 mounts at the Santa Anita meeting.

Trainer Carla Gaines has been fined $500 after Sterling’s Temple, who finished ninth in the third race for maiden claimers at Del Mar on Sept. 3, tested in excess of the permitted level of Betamethasone, a corticosteroid. Sterling’s Temple was scratched from Sunday’s fifth race for maiden claimers.

Cruz gets first Santa Anita win

Jockey Angel Cruz won his first race at Santa Anita with The Hunted ($17.60) in Saturday’s fifth race for maidens on turf.

Cruz, 23, began riding in California this fall, having relocated from Laurel Park. A native of Puerto Rico, Cruz has six mounts on Friday’s 10-race program, the next day of live racing at Santa Anita. With several of the circuit’s leading riders at Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup, Cruz will have his busiest day since arriving from Maryland on Friday.

Friday’s 10-race program includes two stakes – the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies for statebred 2-yeaer-olds and the $70,000 Lure Stakes for turf milers. First post is noon Pacific.