Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) – Purse $100.000
SA – 1 1/16 mile – Dirt
For Fillies Three Years Old
February 25, 2023
The race to the KY Oaks is heating up. With 100 KYO points on the line, the Santa Ysabel Stakes is a springboard to the KY Oaks. Last year’s winner, Bronze Freak, finished third in the Oaks and retired with $709.220 in earnings. This year’s field includes several fillies who already have KYO points:
Gumption 18 Points
Empire Sunset 11 Points
Shining At Knight 8 Points
Creepy Chili 3 Points
Greenhousegasparty 4 Points
Be Patient 1 Point
The 50-point winner’s share will go a long way toward getting one of these fillies into the starting gate the first Friday in May:
1 Creepy Chili (Chili King Stables)
Only a maiden win for this girl, but she managed to earn $100.000 last year due in large part to a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Pocahontas at CD, which gave her 3 KYO points.
2 Shining At Knight (Our Athletes)
Another one with just a maiden win. Finished third by ½ length in her last start, the $150.000 Silverbulletday at FG. Earned her KYO points in the Silverbulletday and the Demoiselle.
3 Gumption (Alydar Stakes)
Grade 1 winner of the Frizette in October which earned her a place in the gate for the BC Juvenile Fillies where she finished a respectable fourth. Couldn’t get money last out in the Las Virgenes (Grade 3) at SA. Most of her KYO points came from the BC Juvenile Fillies and the Frizette.
4 [Rename1644] Aer Stables
Won the Shady Well Stakes for ON-Breds sprinting on a muddy track. Has only one start as far as a mile and finished off the board against the boys in the Sham Stakes (Grade 3).
5 La Roo (Our Athletes)
Put together a strong series of performances in state-bred company at GP that included a win in the $400.000 FL Sire Stakes – My Dear at this distance. Didn’t fare so well in her last two starts in graded company.
6 Sparks (Pan Farms)
Broke her maiden two starts back at CD, then followed that up by finishing second by a nose in the state-bred CA Cup Oaks on turf. Trying graded company and a route of ground for the first time in her four career starts.
7 Empire Sunset (Fractious)
In her last four starts, she hasn’t been worse than third and that was in the Grade 1 Starlet KYO. Finished third last out in the $150.000 Silverbulletday. Look for her to have a say in the outcome.
8 Techfluence High (The Sidley Stud)
BC Fillies Turf winner switching to dirt for this one. Has only finished off the board twice in eight career starts, and she’s not new to dirt but is new to routing on dirt. One to watch, but dirt has to be a question mark.
9 Be Patient (Mb Stables)
Won the $125.00 ELP Debutante in August. Hasn’t been back to the winner’s circle since, but she did finish second sprinting in optional claiming company last out. Her KYO point came in a 5th place performance in the Chandelier.
10 Greenhousegasparty (Mb Stables)
Broke her maiden at DMR in July, then followed that up with a second performance in N1X company and a second in the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes KYO. Didn’t fare well in the Demoiselle (Grade2) on off going. Even so, she looks like a strong contender.
11 Paradise Awaits (Delta Farms)
Very lightly raced filly with just two career starts. Broke her maiden at LAD at first asking, then followed that up with a win in the $50.000 Fantasy. Coming back from a four-month layoff. That could hurt her chances in here as much as lack of experience.
Picks: 10-7-3
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
