Santa Barbara Stakes – Grade III
SA Race #2 1 1/2m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $100.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1         Folsom Tradition       Hippyheart        Espinoza V

This is not the strongest field for a grade three so this may a good opportunity for the trainer to get most of the $100 this filly cost to buy from John Henry. Twice and ungraded stakes winner for the former owner she excelled on an off track so may want some rain to be seen at her best. Her first start for the new owner saw a game win in a GG open Allowance and she gets a good draw to go on the speed again today giving her a good chance of backing up.

2        Kiwi Sunshine        Smokey Stover           Hernandez J J

In a stable with so many stars this one could be overlooked but she is a consistent filly who is working well enough to be a big factor in this race. Another with a couple of ungraded wins to her name she ran very nicely last time out when leading for much of the Orchid only to get run down in the last furlong and a repeat of that run could see her taking the win here.

3    Ginger Shamanism         Greyfriars Stable         Cedillo A

Followed up her maiden with an allowance win on seasonal debut but has been a bit below par in her last two efforts. Gets in here with a shot in a race that isn’t brimming over with talent but she will have to improve on what we have seen so far.

4      Grand Phoenix        Team 7 Illusions           Gonzalez Ru

Finally won her maiden at the sixth attempt and that was in a claimer so it is hard to see her following up here. Having said that she is from a stable that has won races like this with similar sorts and whilst all her form is in maidens she has run well enough in one or two to be given a shot.

5         Built For Speed        First Flight Stable          Prat F

We get to the wide outside and we find what is probably the best horse in the race. The winner of eight races she followed up a win in the Dowager at the end of last year with a win in the La Prevoyante Handicap on her only run this year and whilst that may have been a while a go now she does seem to like her races spaced out. She is a deep closer so as long as there is pace in this race the small field will be to her advantage.

SUMMARY

Built For Speed looks the pick here but her style means she will need things to go her way. Kiwi Sunshine and Folsom Tradition may be safer choices.

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