MyRacehorse has two opportunities to take down the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes which goes as race 7 on Saturday’s race card at Santa Anita Park. This is a very competitive edition of the Grade 3 Santa Ana which is contested at the 1 ¼ mile distance. The field of eight will start on the down the hill turf course, having the opportunity to work out early positioning as they go by the grandstand for the first time.
Going to Vegas has been slated as the deserving morning-line favorite with odds of 9/5 as she looks to defend her title in the Santa Ana. Vegas will break from Post 7 due to the scratch of Baltas stablemate, Disappearing Act. Right outside of her will be MyRacehorse stablemate, Carpe Vinum who makes her second start off of the layoff. Both horses have been training well heading into this G3 event.
Post time is 4:12 p.m. PT
About the competition:
Charges Dropped (20/1) now draws the rail with the early scratch of Disappearing Act. She does come off a win in her most recent effort but will have to improve drastically to beat this company.
Quiet Secretary (20/1) will likely be the speed of the speed as this 5-year-old mare tries the 1 ¼ mile distance for the first time. Though she is a four time winner and has had a more than respectable career so far, she appears up against it here. Will be involved early.
Closing Remarks (5/2) is the lone CA-bred in the field but must be respected in this race. She does need pace to run into but looks as if she will get it. She was only three-quarters of a length behind Going to Vegas in the Buena Vista and should appreciate any added ground which she gets in the Santa Ana. On Thoro-Graph sheets she may have reacted a bit to a big effort two back.
Keyflower (6/1) is undefeated in her lone Southern California start which was against allowance company but was only beaten less than two lengths in a Grade 1 the race prior. Seems capable of taking a step forward which would be needed to be on the winning end.
Queen Goddess (6/1) comes into this turf effort off of back to back dirt tries. Did earn a Grade 1 win in the America Oaks on Opening Day at Santa Anita when the turf event was moved to the dirt. This will be her first start over the Santa Anita turf course. She clearly has ability but is tricky to gauge in here.
Neige Blanche (7/2) was fourth in this race last year. She is a seven time winner from 16 lifetime starts but has found a home at the marathon distances. While she is extremely sharp, we believe she is best with even more distance.
Going to Vegas (9/5) is returning off of three weeks following a very nice comeback effort in the Buena Vista. She is the defending champ and is clearly the horse to beat from a numbers standpoint. While she went wire to wire last year, there appears to be more speed this year and Vegas may find herself having a target in Quiet Secretary.
Carpe Vinum (12/1) fired a nice effort off of a nine month layoff last out. She needs to improve but has arguably been working the best she ever has. The added 1/8th of a mile is a bonus and should have plenty of pace in front of her to run into.