Santa Barbara Stakes
SA Race #3 1 1/2m Turf Stake
Purse $100.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.

1 Cp Choosen Farley Mo Mentum Farm Dettori L 123 —

There are a few penalties flying around in this race so this one comes in on a handy mark and with the help of Dettori from an inside gate. They are all big pluses but finding the form that can see this one as a winner is less obvious. Claimed a month ago from a sprint claimer at FG this is an interesting move by the new owner in putting her over an extreme trip but there are snippets of form over longer trips so it may just be the key. Having said that, it is hard to look at her form lines with any comparison to normal handicapping in real life and with her it may be just a matter of whether you agree with the gut instinct of her new owner.

2 Loihi Martyparty Gutierrez Mario 127 —

Carries the impost of 127Lbs here and she would have to be pretty superior to beat these with that sort of disadvantage. Having said that, this is a tough mare who has proven her worth at this level which is more than can be said for a couple of them. The winner of the RGD over this sort of trip last year she is proven to stay and has run a couple of decent races in good company this year suggesting she is more than capable of winning this. The draw certainly helps with some of her disadvantage so maybe she could do the impossible here.

3 Lotta Carnival Oval Express Farms Vazquez R A 123 —

A bit of a plodder over shorter trips winner, maybe just what she needs. She is however just a one race winner, and that record must count against her, but a decent enough draw and a new trip may be just what she needs for win number two.

4 Peppermint Diamonds Allinthegate Velazquez J R 125 —

She carries a 2Lb penalty here for a win in the State-bred O Cain last year and that may be a tough ask. Having said that, she has always looked like this sort of extreme trip would suit her, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see her run a big race.

5 Ghost Barcelona Farms Van Dyke D 123 —

Claimed for just $7.000 this five-year-old comes here solidly under the radar, but I think she has a few things in her favor. I really liked her allowance win at GG last time, and she has run two nice races since being put over ground by the new owner. Add to that some nice works and the weight situation and we may have a good betting proposition here at possible longer odds.

6 Stop And Stare Night Rider Stables Espinoza V 123 —

Like just about every horse this trainer claims this one has shown plenty of improvement and will have plenty of support in this even looking race. I think the key here will be how the race engine lets her run because this trip looks to suit if she is given some time to get going in the race. Hard to really get enthusiastic about but this player certainly seems to have the Midas touch in these sorts of races, a win is certainly on the radar.

7 Robber Baroness Aarons Hosses Prat F 125 —

Drawn wide and a weight penalty but I have a feeling this one may just be tough to beat if the wide gate speed push puts her into a clear lead and the rain stays away. Forget her last start on an off track, she had been really impressive wining three in a row before that including a solid win in the CTT Stakes where she made all from a wide gate. If the race engine works for her today, I can see her beating the penalty.

SUMMARY
An interesting race because of the penalty system. I rather like Robber Baroness for this, but the weight and the draw won’t make it easy. The main danger may come from Ghost who looks a progressive sort and is in astute hands.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded