Solidly favored in each of her nine races and a winner of three Grade 1
Turbulent Descent was bumped at the start of the Filly & Mare Sprint over a
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“The trip was murderous in the Breeders’ Cup,” trainer Mike Puype said.
“She’ll have good conditions here. She’s the fastest three-year-old filly out
here.”
A winner of three stakes races at seven furlongs, including Saratoga’s Grade
1 Test Stakes prior to the Breeders’ Cup, Turbulent Descent drew post position 2
in Saturday’s field of nine. Purchased for $160,000 out of a Florida
two-year-olds in training sale last year by Blinkers On Racing Stable and
partners, the bay lass would elevate her earnings to $1,038,350 with a triumph
in the La Brea.
Turbulent Descent captured the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks in her last start
over the local dirt track.
Her opposition includes Home Sweet Aspen, never worse than second in six
starts for trainer John Sadler before unsuccessfully trying grass in Hollywood
Park’s Cool Air Stakes four weeks ago; California Nectar, a two-time stakes
winner at seven furlongs over the track; and Grade 2 winner Great Hot.
Sadler dismisses Home Sweet Aspen’s turf encounter.
“She just doesn’t like the turf,” the conditioner said. “I expect her to run
back to form.”
Joel Rosario will ride the Candy Ride filly.
California Nectar, trained by Doug O’Neill, won Santa Anita’s Grade 2 Santa
Ynez Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion at the La Brea distance last January
following a similar win in the California Breeders’ Championship. Hector Berrios
will retain the mount.
Great Hot recorded a respectable third behind Zazu in the Grade 1 Lady’s
Secret Stakes at Santa Anita three starts back and then captured the Grade 2
Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland. The A.C. Avila trainee never fired in the Filly &
Mare Sprint, checking in 11th, but she’s eligible to bounce back with an
improved showing. Regular rider Chantal Sutherland has the call.
Completing the field is Grade 3 vixen May Day Rose, who exits a head second
in the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes; Grade 2 turf winner Sarah’s Secret; multiple
stakes queen Sugarinthemorning; and recent optional claiming winners Include Me
Out and Teddy’s Promise.
A supporting feature, the $75,000
Eddie Logan Stakes
at one mile on turf, has
attracted a cast of nine two-year-olds headed by trainer Steve Asmussen’s Daddy
Nose Best. Asmussen won last year’s Logan with Silver Medallion.
A son of Scat Daddy, Daddy Nose Best will be joined by regular rider Julien
Leparoux as he makes his West Coast debut following a 3 1/4-length allowance
race victory on November 26 at Churchill Downs. The colt turned in a creditable
sixth-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf two starts back.
High weight in the Eddie Logan at 122 pounds is Stoney Fleece, who is being
wheeled back by Sadler following a fifth-place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the
$100,000 California Breeders’ Champion Stakes on Monday’s opening day card at
Santa Anita. Corey Nakatani was named to replace Rosario in the saddle. Stoney
Fleece broke awkwardly on Monday and flattened out late in the seven-furlong
event. He previously had won Hollywood Park’s Grade 3 Generous Stakes at
one-mile on turf in late November.