Santa Monica Stakes (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
SA- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
January 21, 2017
A field of seven is set to go to post for the 13th running of the Santa Monica Stakes, a race the gives those who don’t quite want to do sprints and those who don’t want to go a mile their time to shine. The race is held at seven furlongs, and has seen some great names in the past end up in the winner’s circle. None is greater, however, then Blonde Dynamite, who won 24 of 37 career races to just start out with a lengthy list of accolades. There are no Blonde Dynamites in our field, at least not at the moment, and it seems to be a group that looks very similar. Many have career earnings $270.000 and $420.000, and no one has cracked $1,000.000 in earnings yet. Well, Lea is only off by $2.300 from doing that, and it stands to reason that she should accomplish that in this race. She is the horse to beat, but there are a few in here that can do exactly that. Let’s meet them now!
#1- Crack Performance (Rockitpad, ridden by V Espinoza)- This filly is just beginning to get into her best form, winning three of seven last year with two of those wins coming in her last three races. The race that was not a victory was her first attempt to take on graded company, and she did not mess around with where she went, going right to the Grade 1 La Brea. The field was a little too tough for her that day and it does seem as though that in order for her to have a chance, she’s going to need a bit softer crowd. Not sure if this is it, but it seems as though she can be more competitive in this field. Never count on the horse on the rail.
#2- Pluck Around (John Henry, ridden by N Arroyo Jr)- The jockey has gotten off to a slow start this year, with just one win in 17 starts as of press time, and John Henry is not going to let him pluck around with Pluck Around. He purchased the filly in August via private sales for $120.000 after she won five of seven, mostly on the PA-bred circuit, for Australia Wide. John Henry has taken her away from the Keystone State, and enjoyed a win in the minor $50.000 Useeit Stakes in December. Might be a bit of a longshot on raceday.
#3- Lea (Mb Stables, ridden by J Talamo)- After a fantastic three year old season that saw her win six out of nine races, which included the likes of the Grade 1 Test at beautiful Saratoga Race Course, Lea seems destined for even greater things in 2017. She run in the BC Fillies and Mares Sprint here back in November, and was a respectable fourth. One change with her is that she will not have regular rider R J Albarado aboard, as he is at GP, so J Talamo steps in and hopes not to miss a beat. If she runs her best race, she will not be beat.
#4- Fight Song (Sccj Stables, ridden by F Prat)- Here’s another jockey off to a slow start this year, with just one win in 21 starts as of press time, but maybe he just needs a little fight song to get him going. Fight Song finished her three year old campaign well, with wins in three of her last four (her only wins of the year). The victories began coming when the trainer toned down her placement slightly. She has three ungraded wins to her credit, but has only been in the middle of the pack when attempting this level.
#5- El Gran Regret (Night Mare Racing, ridden by Mar Garcia)- The El Gran Broomstick filly finished off her 2016 by winning a graded event for the first time, taking the Grade 3 Turn Back The Alarm, at a mile and a sixteenth. My favorite part about this filly is her overall consistency in that she always seems to be near the front. Only once in her ten starts, has she finished worse then fourth, and excluding her debut, she’s never been further then to lengths behind a winner. So, she knows how to be there and she has some good times at this distance in past races. If you want to bet against Mb Stables in this race, take her.
#6- Silk Houses (Alydar Stables, ridden by G L Stevens)- The five year old mare has won five of her 25 career races, and has hit the board in 18 of them. Ran in some big races last year, such as the Humana Distaff, and the Ballerina, both Grade 1’s before culminating in the BC Fillies and Mares Sprint. It’s a good record, but I am uncertain as to whether or not she is on her best form right now. The Ballerina was a dud for her, and she never threatened in the BC event. She has the potential, and if she’s on, she’s as good as anyone. Not my pick, though.
#7- Fleeting Affair (Mb Stables, ridden by M E Smith)- The biggest threat to Lea in this race comes right here from her stablemate. Fleeting Affair was also good enough to qualify for the BC Fillies and Mares Sprint, and did one better then Lea, with a third place finish. Overall, she won four graded stakes last year, and they were much like the one she runs in today. She’s working well and I see no reason to think she can’t pick off a win here. Perhaps, these two Mb Stars will get into a dead heat, as after all the stake history shows we have never had one yet, so you know we’re due. For now, though, I am putting Lea on top of her, but really, either of these can win.
Prediction: 3-7-5-2
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
