There won’t be as much history for EVITA ARGENTINA (Candy Ride [Arg]) to buck
on Friday when she heads a cast of nine fillies and mares in the $200,000
Rancho
Bernardo H. (G3) at Del Mar over 6 1/2 furlongs. Earlier this season, the John
Sadler pupil became the first filly to beat males in the San Vicente S. (G2) at
Santa Anita in 62 years. She later added the A Gleam H. (G2) at Hollywood Park,
becoming the first three-year-old in 63 years to win that seven-furlong dash.
Three-year-old winners of the Rancho Bernardo have been a bit more plentiful
than in the A Gleam, though it’s been 20 years since Kool Arrival last scored
for the sophomore set. Interestingly, Evita Argentina is not the only one of her
age in Friday’s race with a prime opportunity to win. CARLSBAD (Rocky Bar), who
enters off a tiring fifth in the San Clemente H. (G2) in her grass debut, is a
proven sprinter who can stretch her speed to a middle distance. She showed it
two starts back in the 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Oaks (G2), defeating both Evita
Argentina and LADY LUMBERJACK (Forestry) after setting a moderate pace. The
latter came back to run third to Evita Argentina in the A Gleam.
The best of the older fillies and mares in the Rancho Bernardo might be hard
pressed to prevent a sophomore sweep. GOLDEN DOC A. (Unusual Heat) has lost 13
straight dating back to the 2008 Las Virgenes S. (G1), and hit the board for the
first time in 10 outings when runner-up in an allowance/optional claimer over
the Del Mar strip last time. The winner of that heat, ASHLEY’S KITTY (Tale of
the Cat), returned to her best form that day in what was her first victory since
the 2008 Desert Stormer H. at Hollywood.
SHE’S CHEEKY (Black Minnaloushe), fourth in the A Gleam, has also placed in
the Desert Stormer and Santa Monica H. (G1) this season. The lightly-raced MOON
DE FRENCH (Malibu Moon) suffered her first setback in three starts when going
down by a neck last time as the odds-on choice, but still seems to have plenty
of upside for the potent combo of trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Garrett Gomez.