Santa Ana Stakes – Grade III
SA Race #4 1 1/4m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $100.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.

1 Lousiana Woo Invicta Group Llc Prat F 123 —

Ran in some really good three-year-old races last season and managed some good results with a second in the DMR Oaks and a third in the JC Oaks. She began this season with a closing second in the Astra Stakes but once again looked the sort that can gallop forever at a good pace but hasn’t got that electric turn of foot at the end. She is a decent sort though, and she just has to have things go her way to find the winner’s circle.

2 Made The Choice High First Flight Stable Espinoza V 123 —

Plenty to like about this seven-year-old who had been breaking well recently on the old engine but broke slowly in the Pegasus on her seasonal debut making up ground late to be seventh beaten three lengths. This trip will certainly suit her better, but she is another that seems to need a long trip and a true run race to get her nose in front. She gets a great draw here and if she can stay a bit closer today, I think she may have the class to win.

3 Tessas Star Glorify Stables Velazquez J R 123 —

This is a different filly to the first two here as she has plenty of early pace but often finds the latter stages most difficult. This better draw today may allow her to take a sit just off the pace which will give her a chance to save some for the stretch just like she did in the American Oaks when only beaten a half-length.

4 Shes One Of A Kind Mo Mentum Farm Bravo J 123 —

Won some nice races for Maxmillion Farm but has been a bit disappointing since changing hands for a decent amount at $275.000. She looked a bit better last time when dropped in grade to win an optional claimer at SA, and I wonder whether that will set her up for a big effort today. If she is back to her best like the filly that won the Yellow Ribbon Handicap, she could run well.

5 Maggie Greene The Sidley Stud Gutierrez Mario 123 —

One of the great mares of the game this evergreen eight-year-old has won over $4,000.000 in prize money and has a long list of top wins. The big question will always be her age, but her works say she hasn’t slipped too far from her best, and she was pretty good in the Pegasus on seasonal debut, so a famous win is not an impossibility. As usual, I will be cheering for the veteran.

6 Loihi Martyparty Dettori L 123 —

A good sort but has become one of those that has been a bit expensive to follow. She got too far back last time in the Endeavor but ran on well in the end for fourth, but there are plenty with efforts like that in this race and, she will have to be at her very best to have any chance.

7 Lady Hilltopper Black N Gold Stable Rispoli U 123 —

A length in front of Loihi in the Endeavor when third she also got back, so there will be no excuse of she can’t confirm those placings today. She was a very good three-year-old nearly winning the American Oaks over this trip and taking the Pebbles and The Sands Point before that. She has a closing style so may well go back from this draw, but I feel with no obvious pace here it may pay for her to use the wide gate speed push and go for a lead early on. Whatever happens, she will have a good chance of coming out on top.

SUMMARY

I just have a feeling about this race with so many horses that generally get a little outpaced early that the winner may be the horse that takes the initiative and goes to the front. Whatever happens this won’t be an easy race to win, but I am going for Maggie Greene in the hope she can get an unchallenged lead and win one for the oldies.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES