Providencia J

Nine three-year-old fillies will contest the Providencia S. (G3) over one
mile on the Santa Anita turf course. With an abundance of early speed, the race
should set up well for a closer, and we’ll opt for SHERMEEN (Ire) (Desert
Style). In her American debut, the bay was a solid fourth in the China Doll S.
over this same course and trip, reserved off a slow pace and finishing well
enough to earn a 99 BRIS Late Pace rating, the highest Late Pace figure in this
field. As a juvenile in England, she was third, beaten three-quarters of a
length, in the Cornwallis S. (Eng-G3) against colts. Prior to that effort, she
was a respectable fifth of 23 in the Watership Down Stud Sales Race, with multiple Group 2 winner and classic hopeful Flashy Wings (Zafonic) just about
three lengths in front of her in second.  Shermeen ought to improve in her
second start off a layoff for trainer James Lloyd, especially in view of the
fact that she gets a rider switch to Rafael Bejarano as well as first-time Lasix.

Recent La Habra S. queen HARRIETT LANE (Giant’s Causeway) has captured
three straight on this turf course. Moreover, La Habra runner-up Bettarun Fast
(Kelly Kip) complimented her when coming back to land the Santa Paula S. (G3) on
the main track last weekend. The Ted West trainee deservedly ranks as the 2-1
morning line favorite, and she will get the services of Corey Nakatani.

CHOSEN ROYALTY (In Excess [Ire]) is two-for-two lifetime for horseman Bruce
Headley. Although both of those wins came in sprints on the main track against
California-breds, she has the pedigree to succeed on the grass at this distance,
and her 94 BRIS Speed rating last out in an optional claimer matches up very well
here. Chosen Royalty has been training sharply for her stakes and turf debut.
Alex Solis, who’s won four of five races when partnering Headley mounts in the
last two weeks, will ride.

The Gary Mandella-trained KARLEE’S KITTEN (Pioneering) is trying the lawn for
the first time. She must have been well regarded by her connections, as she
tackled the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) fresh off her maiden win last fall and
wasn’t disgraced when finishing fifth in an 11-horse field. She once more lined
up in elite company in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in her last start and again
checked in a non-threatening fifth. With Mr. Prospector in her sire line and
Pleasant Colony on her dam’s side, the surface switch might agree with her. One
thing is certain: this is a drop in class for a filly who had been facing
leading three-year-old filly and Ashland S. (G1) favorite Balance (Thunder
Gulch).

China Doll winner FOXYSOX (GB) (Foxhound) hasn’t put a foot wrong since
coming to the U.S., landing two in a row at this course and distance. We suspect
that she benefited from a perfect trip closely attending a slow pace in the
China Doll, and she will get a tougher test here.

China Doll runner-up GOLDEN SILK (Songandaprayer) has set the early pace in
her last four starts, only to get caught or fade, and it’s difficult to imagine
her reversing the pattern here. China Doll seventh SHAPERELLI (Ire) (Imperial
Ballet [Ire]) was also well beaten by Providencia rival Harriett Lane in an
optional claimer two starts back. I CAN SEE (Flying Chevron) has been
ambitiously spotted this year, and she looks up against it judging by her Speed
ratings. She takes the blinkers off in her grass debut. TWO TURN HALO (Southern
Halo) is exiting a victory against $50,000 maiden claiming company.