How to Bet the Senorita Stakes

An excellent field of sophomore fillies will go 6 1/2 furlongs down the Hillside Turf Course in Saturday’s $100,000 Senorita (G3) at Santa Anita. I really liked the win posted by #2 Mo’ Em Down (5-2) in an allowance race at the distance on April 4 and will give her a big chance in the deep field. The Caracaro sophomore flashed good potential on the dirt as a juvenile, led by a clear second in the Sorrento (G3), but she might ultimately be better on the green if her latest run was any indication. 

Senorita Wagers

• $3 trifecta key 2 with 1,5,7 ($18)
• $.50-cent trifecta 2 with 1,5,7 with all ($12)
• $.50-cent trifecta 1,5,7 with 2 with all ($12)

Kentucky-bred filly was professional when waiting for room on the inside prior to accelerating late in a measured tally on the course most recently, and she has every right to improve, making her second run since August, too. The $40,000 yearling purchase retains the services of Hector Berrios.

The Doug O’Neill-trained #5 Light Won Up (8-5) dominated the Sweet Life S. at this venue down the hill two back and was last seen finishing a solid fourth in the deep Limestone (G3) at Keeneland last time out. The $265,000 City of Light filly has a combination of tactical speed and a closing punch, and I expect her to sit a nice trip from the second flight early on with regular rider Antonio Fresu in the silks. 

#7 Will Happen (12-1) was second to the top choice in her latest venture and could peak while going third time off the layoff in this affair. The Vekoma filly from the barn of Richard Baltas handled the transition to the downhill trip quite well last time, and the dark bay has the gate presence to be close from the break, too. Mike Smith picks up the mount atop the win threat. 

The Group-3 placed #1 Bella Lyra (9-2) will make her U. S. debut in the tilt for conditioner Mark Glatt.  The bay daughter of Oasis Dream was a smart runner-up in her 2026 bow on the synthetic at Lingfield and gets back on the green for this one. The inside post is not ideal, but the filly did get a work in at this venue, and a top-three finish is well within reach under Ricardo Gonzalez.