La Canada Stakes (G2)
For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
1 1/16 mile on Dirt
Purse $200.000
1/14/2017 at SA
1 Sweep The Ash
Owner: Eastern Equine
Breeder: Boulevard
This five-year-old mare has had a brilliant career. In just 16 races, she has earned $862.120. That career includes graded stakes wins and a #3 finish in the 2015 BC Distaff. But last year she started only 5 times and was unable to get to the winner’s circle. Even so, she managed to earn $154.000. Is this a sign she’s slowing down? Not sure, but that, along with the more than 90+ day layoff since her last start, is enough to raise questions about her ability to compete in this field.
2 Dream Space
Owner: End Run Farm
Breeder: Team 7 Illusions
Dream Space is a four-year-old filly with a maiden win at RUI and an Optional Claiming win. Her best performance came in the Chilukki (Grade 2) where she came from last to finish a close second and scored a career high 99 SRF. Well worth the $12.500 tag End Run Farm dished out last May. The only question about this one is experience. She is a filly on the improve.
3 El Gran Tigercat
Owner/Breeder: Spark Racing
Spark Racing’s homebred comes into this race riding a three-race winning streak that started when she broke her maiden in September at DMR. She followed that up with a win in the OK Classic Distaff and another win in the Go For Wand Handicap (Grade 3). Never worse than third in six career starts. Again experience is the only question mark here, but I wouldn’t count her out.
4 Fidele Fille
Owner/Breeder: Gdp Inc
Another homebred, this one running for Gdp Inc. Won the Seaway (Grade 3) in August, but hasn’t been able to get back to the winner’s circle in her three starts since. Her best effort came last start in the Rampart (Grade 3) where she missed the win by a head. This looks like a good spot for her. Don’t look for her up front early, but she could be there at the wire.
5 Dirty Deeds
Owner: Aer Stables
Breeder: Downwind Stables
Another filly with an outstanding record. She changed hands for $40.000 before running a race. Since then, she has amassed $966.400 in thirteen starts, including a win in the Grade 1 CCA Oaks and a dead heat win in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) with Way Up who went on to finish second in the BC Distaff, a race in which Dirty Deed finished fourteenth and last after encountering serious traffic problems. Expect her to run back to form here. And if she does, she could be the one to beat.
6 Heart Nemulae
Owner/Breeder: SamIam
Winner of the Grade 1 Spinster, SamIam’s four-year-old homebred filly finished seventh in the BC Distaff (also a victim of traffic problems) and followed that up with a 2nd place finish in the Comely (Grade 3). Should have a cleaner trip in this field of seven, and should be a factor.
7 Sweet Release
Owner: Joseph Racing
Breeder: Four Winds Racing
Another filly riding a winning streak. This one is four races long and Sweet Release will try to make it five. Scored a 100 SRF last out in winning the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) at 1 ¼ mile. A sixty-day gap between races has been working well for her, and she comes into this race with a seventy-day rest. Making her first start for Joseph Racing after changing hands in the December auction. Should be ready to go.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
