December 22, 2024

A. P. Adventure seeks El Encino; Sweet Catomine returns

Last updated: 1/14/05 8:27 PM












A. P. Adventure looks poised for a big year
(Juan Garcia/Horsephotos.com)





Grade 1 winner
A. P. ADVENTURE (A.P. Indy), who exits a solid third-place
finish in the Bayakoa H. (G2) off a lengthy layoff, tops a field of eight
entered for Sunday’s $150,000 El Encino S. (G2), the second leg of the La Canada
series for fillies foaled in 2001. Winner of the Las Virgenes S. (G1) and Santa
Ysabel S. (G3), the Wally Dollase-trained A. P. Adventure will be seeking her
third graded win at Santa Anita.

Earlier on the card, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine SWEET
CATOMINE (Storm Cat), who is likely to be named champion two-year-old filly,
will make her sophomore bow against five rivals in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel.
The 1 1/16-mile event has been rescheduled after being washed out last Sunday.

The 8 1/2-furlong El Encino follows the seven-furlong La Brea S. (G1), which
was captured by Alphabet Kisses (Alphabet Soup), in the La Canada series, and
the top finisher to return for the El Encino is third-placer ELUSIVE DIVA
(Elusive Quality). The Mark Glatt trainee captured the Railbird S. (G3) and
placed in three other graded events last season.

A SONG IN A MINOR (Real Quiet), under a 115-pound impost that includes Pat
Valenzuela, will lead the El Encino post parade. She’ll be followed by SHAKE OFF
(A.P. Indy), Tyler Baze, 117; TARLOW (Stormin Fever), Gary Stevens, 115; GIRL
WARRIOR (Elusive Quality), Victor Espinoza, 115; RED TOP (Ire) (Fasliyev), Danny
Sorenson, 115; PENNY’S FORTUNE (Storm Cat), Jose Valdivia Jr., 117; A. P.
Adventure, Rene Douglas, 119; and Elusive Quality, Kent Desormeaux, 117.



Sweet Catomine recorded a 4-3-1-0 mark last year, including victories in the
Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Oak Leaf S. (G2), and capped her campaign with a
dominant 3 3/4-length triumph at Lone Star Park. The Julio Canani-trained bay
will spot all rivals nine pounds as the 124-pound highweight and be ridden by
David Flores, who replaces Corey Nakatani in the saddle. Sweet Catomine will run coupled with REVEALED (Old Trieste), who exits a one-length
maiden special weight win in her career debut.

The Santa Ysabel field, from the rail with jockeys, is Revealed, Jon Court;
ANDREA’S WISH (Cape Town), Valdivia; ISLAND ESCAPE (Petionville), Valenzuela; ON
LONDON TIME (Gilded Time), Garrett Gomez; Sweet Catomine; and PUSSYCAT DOLL
(Real Quiet), Douglas.