Quote:
Originally Posted by freddymo
3 from Baffert and 2 from McCarthy...Rename it the Humdinger Stakes
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Unfortunately, also-rans from the Santa Ynez Frosteria (Baffert), Exotic West (Baffert), and Nassredine (McCarthy) didn't enter to make it a more diverse field.
Princess Noor (retired) and Moonlight d'Oro (layoff) were at the top of this heap but are inactive now. The silver lining is that the impressive Astute is back and working a hole in the wind if you believe she can stretch out and that you can draw a line through her last race.
Meanwhile after today's China Doll, Santa Anita will have run THREE stakes races for 3yo fillies on the turf in the last 20 days. No rhyme or reason to do that beyond ensuring a 6-horse average field size and it takes away from the run towards the Santa Anita Oaks on dirt.
And despite all that, Javanica, a turf filly who's connections (Godolphin) were game to run against colts in the El Camino Real Derby (she finished 2nd) three weeks ago, doesn't experiment further by starting in the Santa Ysabel...and doesn't show up for the China Doll back on grass, either.
No...she worked a strong 5 furlongs this morning at Santa Anita instead.
I guess I'll eat crow if she shows up for the UAE Derby, or maybe there's another 3yo filly stakes next week...