Santa Margarita (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
SA- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
April 27, 2019
While the field for the 15th running of the Santa Margarita may be small, it is not lacking in talent as three of the runners are well accomplished at the graded level, and the other two are worthy adversaries looking to reach that level themselves. The list of past winners is pretty impressive, and that includes Shake It Off, our winner from last year. The race also has the distinction of having two dead heats in its history, so perhaps that can be in the cards. Let’s meet our runners.
#1- Attitude Problem (Mb Stables, ridden by D Van Dyke)- We start this off with one of the up and comers. Attitude Problem has only made four starts, but she has won three of them, and all of them after her debut. Two of the wins were at TAM, but she stepped up well to win the $100.000 Henson Handicap in her last start, topping Stellar Wind by a length. Now, she’ll some pretty big names as she moves forward again. She will be up for the task.
#2- Jinxed Queen (Gdp Inc, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- Started her 2018 season hot, going on a five race winning streak that saw wins in a pair of Grade 2’s: The Gazelle and the Black Eyed Susan. Then, and although the streak did get snapped, she went to beautiful Saratoga and won two grade 1’s: the CCA Oaks, and the Personal Ensign. That’s been it for her with the wins, though, and recently she’s been failing to hit the board, a run that started in the BC Distaff. Her works are fine, but needs a jolt of positive form here.
#3- Misty Firefox (Crocker Ggs, ridden by J Talamo)- The winner of the KYO last year went on to have a season with five wins in nine starts, and over $1,200.000 in earnings. So far in 2019, she has not yet won, but has only hit the track two times. In those starts, she was second and third; in the Grade 3 HOU Ladies Classic and Grade 2 Azeri BC, respectively. There does not appear to be any let up in her game, and if you look at her SRF’s, you’ll see she is exceptionally consistent around the 94 mark. Seems due for a bounce back, but that goes for a couple of them in here.
#4- Nice Tactical Speed (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by F Prat)- After a huge weekend last week, Maxmillion Farm would like to keep his momentum going here. Nice Tactical Speed is coming off a great 2018 herself, winning four of eight races, including a pair of Grade 3’s: the IND Oaks and the Turnback the Alarm. Gone up against Misty Firefox in each of her last two starts, and has finished behind her. That trend should continue here, unless the trainer’s recent magic touch continues.
#5- Stellar Wind (Simmer Down Stable, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- Winner of four in a row, all open allowances, and five out of six, but despite that, she was put in for a $75.000 claiming tag. She won that race to extend his streak, but Simmer Down Stable was able to claim her. Maybe it should not have been such a surprise then, that she fared so well in their first race together, the $100.000 Henson Handicap, which was a jump up in class for him. Only Attitude Problem was able to beat her there. She knows how to be at the front, so should not be discounted here.
Prediction: 3-1-2-4
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
