Well-matched fields line up in Las Virgenes, Santa Anita stakes

Achiever’s Legacy is but one of Jerry Hollendorfer’s five entries in the Las Virgenes (Benoit Photos)

While Saturday’s Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park appears to be a
one-sided affair with the presence of Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway), the
$400,000
Las Virgenes S. (G1) going a mile at Santa Anita Park has drawn an
evenly-matched field of 10.

There is no real standout in the Las Virgenes, which like the Martha
Washington offers points toward a starting berth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and
the race features quite a few who have finished behind Take Charge Brandi in
recent months.

One of those is Maybellene (Lookin at Lucky), and the Bob Baffert pupil could
go off a narrow favorite based on her three-quarter length third in the Starlet
S. (G1) last out on December 13. Take Charge Brandi fended off the 15-1
Maybellene in the lane of that 1 1/16-mile contest but won’t be around this
time. That could leave the way clear for the bay lass to secure her first stakes
victory. Rafael Bejarano has the return call.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will saddle half the Las Virgenes field, including
Achiever’s Legacy (City Zip) and Majestic Presence (Majestic Warrior) who were
fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Starlet.

Secret Circle’s last win came in the 2013 BC Sprint (Breeders’ Cup Ltd.)

There are two other graded contests scheduled for Saturday at Santa Anita.
Kicking off the stakes action will be the $200,000
Palos Verdes S. (G2) sending
six older runners sprinting six furlongs.

The race features 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) hero Secret Circle (Eddington),
who finished a half-length second while going for a Sprint title defense three
races back. The Baffert trainee, who was second in this race last year, filled
the runner-up spot in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) after his Breeders’ Cup try and
closed out 2014 with a close fourth in the Midnight Lute S. (G3) behind
Distinctiv Passion (With Distinction), who brings a two-race win streak into
this one.

Bing Crosby S. (G1) winner Big Macher (Beau Genius), Grade 2 victor Wild Dude
(Wildcat Heir) and Conquest Two Step (Two Step Salsa), a neck second in the
recent Malibu S. (G1), are also entered. Stakes debuter Chief Lion (Wildcat
Heir) rounds out the field.

Sandwiched between the Palos Verdes and Las Virgenes is the $200,000
Arcadia
S. (G2) going a mile on the Santa Anita turf. Nine were entered, including Kaigun (Northern Afleet), who closed out his four-year-old campaign with a win
in the Seabiscuit H. (G2) at Del Mar on November 28. The chestnut gelding spent
part of last year knocking on the door against Grade 1 rivals, running second in
the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), Manhattan S. (G1) and Maker’s 46 Mile S. (G1).