Venetian Harbor looking like a good one

Venetian Harbor won her main-track debut in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita on Sunday in the manner of a filly with massive potential.

A 3-year-old in 2020, Venetian Harbor led throughout the race at 6 1/2 furlongs, drawing away to prevail by 10 3/4 lengths under jockey Joel Rosario. Venetian Harbor was timed in 1:15.60, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

Sunday’s race was the second start for Venetian Harbor, preceded by a close second in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf on Nov. 15 at Del Mar.

“We’ve thought a lot of her,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “I ran her on the grass because I wanted to get a race into her. She’s big and strong and she looked like she’d like the dirt. She was impressive.”

Venetian Harbor was sold for $110,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September yearling sale and was listed as a buyback for $205,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. sale of 2-year-olds in training in Florida in April.

By Munnings, Venetian Harbor races for Joe Ciaglia, River Oak Farm, and Dominic Savides.

It was a successful start to the 2019-20 Santa Anita winter-spring meeting for Baltas, who on Saturday won the Grade 1 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies with Lady Prancealot.

Ridden by Joe Bravo, Lady Prancealot rallied on the inside in the stretch of the race at 1 1/4 miles on turf to win by a half-length over Mucho Unusual.

Baltas said Lady Prancealot is unlikely to race again until late winter or early spring.

“I think I’ll give her 30 days,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll turn her out. She’s run well with two months between races.”

Lady Prancealot won the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes on Oct. 18 at Keeneland as a prep for the American Oaks.