La Canada Stakes – Grade 3 – $200.000
SA – 1 1/16 Mile Dirt
For Fillies and Mares Four-Year-Old and Upward
January 14, 2023
 

Even in a field this competitive, there are standouts. Derby Connection, Grade 1 Alabama winner, looks tough, as does Ifyerwokeyerajoke. Zombie Storm looks strong, even though she’s been second a lot lately. Z Command also looks competitive in this field.
 
Here’s the field:
 
1 Sexy Angelina (Night Rider Stables) Five-year old mare with a history of finishing off the board in graded company. She’s been trying graded level lately but drops back down to ungraded here. Even so, it’ll take a big effort to get part of this purse.

2 Feliz Cumpleanos (Maxmillion Farm) Has some close finishes in graded company, including a third by a neck last out in the Comely. This looks like a good place for her and she could come home with money.

3 Secret Eyes (Arindel) Graded winner with a victory in the Ballerina BC three starts back. This is a lower level with a higher purse. The competition will be strong, but this mare could be there at the wire.

4 Confederate Warrior (Paradise Stable) Second in her last three starts in stakes level, all in state-bred company. You might say she’s due for a win, and that could be the case. But she has a tough hill to climb here.

5 Derby Connection (Mb Stables) Winner of the Grade 1 Alabama, couldn’t repeat in the Cotillion a month later, but made it to the BC Distaff where she finished fifth. I like her chances here after a two-month breather and a serious class drop.

6 Ifyerwokeyerajoke (TwinTowersRacing) Another grade 1 winner and another BC graduate. Won the Test in August, then hit the board in the Cotillion. Fourth in the BC Fillies and Mares Sprint. She has won at this level and distance, and I like her chances.

7 Z Command (Smokey Stover) Grade 1 winner of the Spinster. Bypassed the BC for a softer spot in the Chilukki where she finished fourth. Another one with a good chance. That last start was the only blip in a string of first and second place graded finishes that stretch back to April.

8 Zombie Storm (La Canada Racehorses) Should like the distance and has proven she can win at this level with a victory in the Chicago four starts back. Last few starts she’s had a problem hitting the board, except in the 1 1/16 mile Zenyatta where she finished third by less than a length. Don’t count her out.

9 Scalp (Spankys Barn) Good second place performance two starts back in the Valley View at the same distance as this race. That and her win in the Lake George in July earned her some respect coming in here. Still, she will have a tough time competing with some of these.

Picks: 5-8-7

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES