Stormy Lucy, who comes off her first graded victory in the March 16 Santa
Ana, seeks to follow up for new connections in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000
Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita. Previously trained by Frank Lucarelli
for Erica Gaunt, the five-year-old mare has since been privately purchased by
Steve Moger and transferred to the barn of Ed Moger Jr.
The winner of a pair of minor stakes at Golden Gate Fields, Stormy Lucy
placed in four graded stakes — the 2012 Honeymoon Handicap, Del Mar Oaks and
Rodeo Drive and in last December’s Robert J. Frankel — before earning an
overdue breakthrough in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Ana.
But the daughter of Stormy Atlantic isn’t certain to duplicate the result
over an added furlong on Sunday. She has been unplaced in two of three previous
attempts at this 1 1/4-mile distance, her best result being a well-beaten third
in the aforementioned Rodeo Drive as a sophomore. Stormy Lucy also rates as the
120-pound highweight in the Santa Barbara. On the plus side, she does keep
Rafael Bejarano aboard. Bejarano masterminded a rail-skimming trip last time,
and could try to repeat the feat from post 3.
Stormy Lucy’s success in the Santa Ana flattered Customer Base, who nipped
her in the Frankel, and that arguably makes the Glen Hill Farm colorbearer the
one to beat here. By Lemon Drop Kid, Customer Base has plenty of stamina. The
Tom Proctor mare was a driving winner of the Lucie Manet at Hollywood last
summer, her only opportunity so far at this trip, and she needed every yard of
the 1 1/8-mile Frankel to deny Stormy Lucy. Customer Base has run once in the
interim, winding up ninth on the cutback to a mile in the February 17 Buena
Vista, but promises to do much better over her preferred 1 1/4 miles. Hall of
Famer Mike Smith retains the mount.
Three of Stormy Lucy’s beaten rivals from the Santa Ana are back, led by the
Argentinean import Miss Serendipity. In her grand finale in her homeland, she
romped by four lengths in a Group 1 over 1 1/4 miles on turf last June. Miss
Serendipity resurfaced with Ron McAnally this winter, running creditably each
time, and has the look of one rounding into form. Fourth in both the January 12
Paseana on the main track and in the Buena Vista on turf, she ran evenly in
third in the Santa Ana. The extra ground could bring out the best in the classy
mare, who renews her partnership with Brice Blanc.
Topic, a non-threatening sixth behind Stormy Lucy in the Santa Ana, is
another eligible to benefit from the step up to 1 1/4 miles. The Neil Drysdale
filly was a rallying third in last summer’s American Oaks fresh off her maiden
win, and promptly went last to first in the 1 3/8-mile C.T.T. and Thoroughbred
Owners of California Handicap at Del Mar. Topic headed to the sidelines
following a disappointing last-of-seven effort in the September 28 Rodeo Drive.
The Santa Ana marked her return from a nearly six-month layoff, and she could
well move forward off that tightener, especially at a more suitable trip.
Rounding out the Santa Ana alumnae is Floral Romance, who trailed that day in
her final outing for Bill Mott. Now with Jerry Hollendorfer, she hopes to return
to the form that saw her finish third in the January 25 Endeavour at Tampa Bay
Downs.
Changethechannel, a course-and-distance allowance winner back in January,
looms as the likely pacesetter, while Champagneandcaviar and Phonybooksnrecords
both need to improve a fair bit to factor.
Later on the Sunday card, Chips All In will defend his title in the Grade 3,
$100,000
San
Simeon at about grassy 6 1/2 furlongs. The Jeff Mullins charge is a
specialist on the unique downhill course. Aside from his victory in last year’s
San Simeon, he also won the Eddie D. and missed by a nose in the Joe Hernandez
in 2013. Chips All In was a lackluster fourth in the December 28 Daytona in his
latest appearance, but a freshening has likely done him a world of good, as
suggested by his recent bullet works over the local turf. Tyler Baze regains the
mount for the first time since the 2013 San Simeon.
His most dangerous rival is the California-bred Lakerville, another with
proven form on the downhill. The talented, but sparingly-raced, son of Unusual
Heat made a winning debut here for Barry Abrams in October 2011, and earlier
this year, returned from a 17-month absence to roll home in the Clocker’s
Corner. After a troubled second in the February 22 Sensational Star, Lakerville
stretched out to two turns for the March 8 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, but could
manage only sixth. He reverts to sprinting, and reunites with Corey Nakatani,
his winning pilot from the Clocker’s Corner.
Sweet Swap was runner-up to Lakerville in the Clocker’s Corner, where he was
hampered by stumbling at the start. The full brother to Grade 1-winning
millionaire Sidney’s Candy then paid Lakerville a compliment when coming back to
take the February 23 Joe Hernandez, beating Zimmer and Pure Tactics, who
re-oppose on Sunday.
Also worth noting are Artest, who invades from Churchill Downs for Al Stall
Jr.; comebacker Chiloquin, successful in his only previous try at this course
and distance; the Proctor-trained Pataky Kid, who picks up Hall of Famer Gary
Stevens in his reappearance; and underachieving blueblood Forward March, a
grandson of Miesque who looks to turn over a new leaf for new trainer John
Shirreffs.
Sunday’s
5TH race, an optional claimer at a mile on the main track, features 2013
Sunland Derby romper Govenor Charlie. Trained by Bob Baffert, the son of
Midnight Lute looks for a confidence booster in the wake of a poor fifth in the
March 15 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn.
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