The Santa Monica Stakes – GII
SA Race 5 7F – Dirt
Purse $250.000
Four Years Olds and Up Fillies and Mares
A small field for sure but it sure does have some talent that’s for sure. I can make a very solid case for five of the six for sure and if they all bring their top game it is going to be one good race. It is a very solid field and there is some very nice fillies in this race for sure. Now let’s go ahead and take a look at the field.
1. Coldpack (16-6-1-0 $1016.400), trained by John Henry
The first filly we come to right here is a multiple grade one winner and even a participant in last years Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She ran fifth that day and then came back with a fourth place finish in the grade one La Brea last time. I think she is very capable of winning if she runs her best race.
2. Starlite Run (15-5-2-4 $413.880), trained by D J C Racing Stables
Now here is a filly who is really on a roll right here because she has won her last four races in a row. The last three of those have been stakes races including her first graded stakes win which was in the grade three Sugar Swirl. She is on the improve for sure and I think she has a good chance to win.
3. Wolfslayer (14-3-8-1 $375.500), trained by Maxmillion Farm
Another grade one winner right here and this filly earned that win in her last start when she won the grade one La Brea over this same track and surface. She won that day over two of these other runners and that was pretty much her coming out party. If she runs that same race she will be tough in here.
4. Eros (11-7-2-0 $235.080), trained by Fractious
The last one right here came out of the La Brea right here and she was the runner up that day. She was the pacesetter that day and barely couldn’t hold on so I think that if she uses the same tactics she is going to have to slow the pace down for sure. She is very capable of winning this race also.
5. Crown Of Light (17-4-2-3 $471.430), trained by TwinTowers Racing
Now this is the only one in this field that I don’t really give that much of a shot to because all of her best races have come on turf. She does have a win over the dirt but her best race have definitely come over the turf so I myself cannot give her that much of a chance against a field like this.
6. Oyster Puff (24-8-6-3 $450.150), trained by Mb Stables
And now to the final runner in the field and she is also a stakes winner. She won the Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct last start. She is a pretty nice mare and she is a talented runner no doubt. The only thing is that if she is good enough to beat these over this distance because she won a route stakes last time.
Summary
Well this is definitely a short and small field but this race is a very tough race no doubt. I’m giving at least five of them a pretty good chance to win. I think any of those five could win if racing luck is on their side and they run their race. It will be a very interesting race to watch and it should be exciting.
3-4-1-2
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
