Wild in the Saddle seeks to cap rise in Dream of Summer

ARCADIA, Calif. – Three years ago, Wild in the Saddle won a $30,000 claimer for maidens at Santa Anita in her eighth start. Later that year, she won a $5,000 claimer at 4 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos.

The days of Wild in the Saddle running in low-class races are long gone. On Sunday, she runs in the $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile at Santa Anita in an attempt to score the first stakes victory of her career.

“I think she’ll be very tough,” trainer Richard Baltas said.

Wild in the Saddle is part of a field of six in the Dream of Summer Stakes, including the stakes winner Sweet Marini and the stakes-placed runners Anniversary Kitty and Grazenette.

:: DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers on Sunday

KEY CONTENDERS

Wild in the Saddle (Last 3 Beyers: 84-63-74)

◗ Baltas is the third trainer of Wild in the Saddle, who has won 7 of 33 starts and earned $229,318. Owned by Nadine Anderson and Cheyenne Ortiz, the 6-year-old mare joined his stable in early 2014 and has won 2 of 5 starts for him. Last September, Wild in the Saddle finished third in the Orange County Stakes at six furlongs at Los Alamitos.

◗ Her temperament has improved in the last year, Baltas said.

“She was a tough horse to train,” he said. “She was getting out, but she’s better now. We’ve been working her and decided to stretch her out. She looks like she can relax.”

◗ On Feb. 20, Wild in the Saddle won an optional claimer at a mile, stalking the pace before taking the lead on the turn.

“I think she’s an improving filly,” Baltas said. “I thought her last race was quite good.”

Sweet Marini (Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-85)

◗ Sweet Marini was sixth behind Warren’s Veneda in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 14. Warren’s Veneda won the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes on March 14. The loss in the Santa Maria led to Sweet Marini’s return to the California-bred division Sunday instead of an appearance in another graded stakes, trainer Bob Baffert said.

“There weren’t any other spots, so we’ll give it a try,” Baffert said. “I want to get her away from Warren’s Veneda.”

◗ A pacesetter, Sweet Marini was second in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs Jan. 19. She has never won around two turns but was second in the Melair Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles in 2013.

Anniversary Kitty (Last 3 Beyers: 76-77-72)

◗ Last April, Anniversary Kitty was fourth in the Melair Stakes here in her last start of 2014. In her two starts this year, both in sprints on the hillside turf course, Anniversary Kitty won an optional claimer for California-bred fillies and mares Jan. 16, and was third in an optional claimer against open company Feb. 28.

◗ Trained by Craig Dollase, Anniversary Kitty has yet to win beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.