The two best female sprinters in training,
VENTURA (Chester House) and INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie), were entered to Saturday’s $300,000
Santa
Monica H. (G1), but the latter won’t start.
“We’re not going to run,” trainer Bob Baffert explained. “I want to freshen
her up.”
Her absence will leave Ventura as clearly the one to beat in a seven-horse field. The
Juddmonte Farms’ homebred got the better of her rival in their lone previous meeting, winning the
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint by four lengths over Indian Blessing in
second, and that meeting took place over seven furlongs on the Pro-Ride at Santa
Anita. The top-class distaffer will compete over the same trip and
venue in the Santa Monica.
“I’m glad Indian Blessing’s not running,” trainer Bobby Frankel said. “I’m
not looking for tough competition.”
Ventura won the grassy Just a Game S. (G1) and
finished an excellent second against males in the Woodbine S. (Can-G1) last
season, and she
displayed her affinity for synthetic tracks when capturing the Madison S. (G2)
and the aforementioned Filly & Mare Sprint. Garrett Gomez, who has ridden the five-year-old mare in all seven of her U.S. starts, will once again
have the mount.
Grade 3 winner BARONESS
THATCHER (Johannesburg), a three-time Grade 1 runner-up, is among those seeking
an upset. JIBBOOM (Mizzen Mast), winner of the grassy Monrovia H. (G3) last out
for Frankel, is also entered, and multiple stakes heroine WAKE UP MAGGIE (Ire) (Xaar)
owns solid credentials.
SHE’S CHEEKY (Black Minnaloushe) will bring a three-race winning skein into
her stakes debut. Trained by Peter Eurton, the four-year-old filly broke her
maiden three starts back at Santa Anita and exits a pair of allowance scores
over the Pro-Ride. TIZZY’S TUNE (Tiznow) and SO LONG SONOMA (American Chance)
round out the field.
Santa Anita will also offer the $70,000
Wishing Well H. for distaffers. Ten are set for the about 6 1/2-furlong turf
dash, including Grade 2 queen SHARP SUSAN (Touch Gold), who will make her first
start for Neil Drysdale. A three-time stakes winner for Barclay Tagg, the
five-year-old was purchased for $2 million at the Keeneland November sale and
will make her California debut for new connections. Grade 3 winner SOCIETY
HOSTESS (Seeking the Gold) also merits serious respect.