Warren's Veneda works half-mile toward La Canada

ARCADIA, Calif. – Warren’s Veneda, the 2015 Grade 1 winner, worked a half-mile in a quick 46.60 seconds Saturday at Santa Anita for a scheduled start in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes for fillies and mares Jan. 16.

Warren’s Veneda was one of 251 recorded works on the main track. Morning activity was expected to be busy this weekend following disrupted training from Tuesday through Thursday because of a series of rain storms.

Trained by Craig Lewis for Ben Warren, Warren’s Veneda already has started at the current winter-spring meeting, having finished eighth in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes on turf Dec. 27. Warren’s Veneda is winless in seven starts since the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational here last March. The span of losses includes a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

The Grade 2 La Canada Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Historically, the race was run for 4-year-old fillies from 1975 until last year and has been opened to fillies and mares this season.

The list of 17 nominations for the La Canada includes Birdatthewire, winner of the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs Dec. 26. Birdatthewire worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 Saturday. She also is considered a candidate for the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs Jan. 23.

Glory, a 4-year-old filly who was third in the Frankel Stakes, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 Saturday. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Glory is nominated for the La Canada.

In other works, the 3-year-old stakes winners Exaggerator and Toews On Ice were in action.

Exaggerator, trained by Keith Desormeaux, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40. Exaggerator won the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot in Louisiana in November in his last start. Desormeaux has mentioned the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs Feb. 15 as a possible first race of the year for Exaggerator.

Toews On Ice worked five furlongs in 1:01.20. Trained by Bob Baffert, Toews On Ice won the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs Nov. 14 at Del Mar and was second to stablemate Mor Spirit in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 19. Toews On Ice is a candidate for the $500,000 Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 15 at Oaklawn Park, Baffert said in a text message.