The Santa Monica Stakes – GII
2/15/20
SA Race 4 7F – Dirt
Purse $200.000
Four Year Olds and Up Fillies and Mares

A field of eight filly and mare sprinters has been entered up to contest this years running of the grade two Santa Monica Stakes over the Santa Anita racetrack. It looks to be a very nice field on paper and I think quite a few have a good shot to win. Let’s take a look at the field.

1. Snakie Pleasure (13-2-3-1 $294.060), trained by Maxmillion Farm

First runner in this field and this mare is a graded stakes winner in her career and she is a nice runner. She is coming into this race off of a second in the grade two Inside Information at Gulfstream. If she can run a big race in here she will have a good shot to win.

2. Crush Szyra (8-4-2-1 $126.240), trained by High Voltage

Next up in this field here is a stakes winning filly who has been improving with every start. That stakes win was in her last start and it was over this same track and she ran a very good race that day. If she keeps on improving like she has been I think she could jump up and steal this.

3. Stamford Bridge (8-3-3-1 $238.490), trained by Dynark Stables

The old eight year old mare here but for being that old she is very lightly raced because of the long hiatus her trainer took before returning last year. She has been since the comeback though with a stakes win and some graded stakes placing. I think the distance is perfect and she should be tough in here.

4. La Marseillaise (11-3-0-4 $98.600), trained by Witeout Stables

The only non stakes winner in the entire field here but she has been knocking on the door in her stakes tries. She was a closing fourth last time in the grade one La Brea over this same track and distance about six weeks ago. She will need to run huge but it would not be the biggest shocker if she won.

5. First Impression (17-5-4-2 $754.640), trained by Mb Stables

Next runner in the field here is the runner up of last years Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and in her last start she was third in the grade one La Brea here at Santa Anita. She is a very good runner and she should be very tough to beat in here. She is one of the top choices.

6. Eye Test (13-4-3-2 $451.360), trained by Axeman

Another graded stakes winner in this field but she is a little bit different than most of these as she is not a sprinter but a router. She has done all of her best running around a route of ground but she is making the cutback in distance. I think these are just a little too quick for her.

7. Sharp Suit (14-5-2-0 $591.600), trained by Rampage Stable

Another graded stakes winner in the field and she is a very good filly but he usual closing style just does not seem to work out that well. If she does not fall too far behind in the early stages she has enough power to run by them all late in the stretch.

8. Tommy Frazier (13-3-2-4 $402.440), trained by John Henry

And the final runner in the field right here and she is coming into this race off of a very narrow defeat in the grade one La Brea. She ran probably the best race of her career that day and was only beaten a head. She has a tough post but she can work out a trip she will be tough.

Summary

Even though most of this weeks hype is on the Derby preps this is one of the toughest races on the entire weekend. Almost every single one of these fillies or mares could win this race. My top pick is First Impression with the good post draw. Good luck to all in the field.

5-8-3-7

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES