ISLAND FASHION (Petionville) will seek her second consecutive victory in the
$250,000 Santa Monica H. (G1) on Sunday. The five-year-old mare, who also owns
victories at Santa Anita in the La Brea S. (G1) and Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup
H. (G2) as well as an excellent runner-up finish versus males in the Santa Anita
H. (G1), will face nine rivals in Sunday’s seven-furlong contest. The Marcelo Polanco trainee will carry the top weight of 120 pounds.
Three-time Grade 2 heroine
YEARLY REPORT (General Meeting) merits serious
respect if she starts. The Bob Baffert-trained filly, who captured the
Stonerside S. by 9 1/4 lengths in her last start, is cross-entered to Saturday’s
$500,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff. Another dangerous entrant is TAMWEEL
(Gulch), who came on at the end of 2004 with a runner-up finish in the Spinster
S. (G1) and a close fourth-place showing in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). The
five-year-old will make her first start for new conditioner Tom Amoss in the
Santa Monica.
TIZAKITTY
(Distinctive Cat) brings good form into the race off a one-length
score in the 6 1/2-furlong Kalookan Queen H. over this surface. Three-time Argentine Group 1 winner SALT
CHAMP (Arg) (Salt Lake) will make her U.S. bow here for conditioner Richard
Mandella. Multiple stakes victress ROYALLY CHOSEN (In Excess [Ire]) also merits
consideration off a commendable second in the Bayakoa H. (G2) last out.
The complete field, from the rail with riders and imposts, is IRGUNETTE (Aus)
(Irgun), Alex Bisono, 112; Tizakitty, Garrett Gomez, 115; Salt Champ, Gary
Stevens, 116; Yearly Report, Jerry Bailey, 119; Island Fashion, Patrick
Valenzuela; Royally Chosen, David Flores, 115; PLATINUM PRINCESS (Wolf Power [SAf]),
Mike Smith, 112; Tamweel, Rene Douglas, 118; RESPLENDENCY (Tale of the Cat),
Casey Fusilier, 114; and BORN TO DANCE (Service Stripe), Danny Sorenson, 113.