Santa Anita Stakes Selections for the La Canada, Las Cienegas

A pair of graded stakes events for fillies and mares will be contested at Santa Anita on Saturday. The "Great Race Place" will play host to the $200,000 La Canada (G3) on the main oval, as well as the $100,000 Las Cienegas (G3) on the turf.

La Canada Analysis

Eight will go postward in the 1 1/16 miles affair, led by multiple Grade 1 heroine #7 Spiced Perfection (5-2). The standout daughter of Smiling Tiger is a one-turn dynamo who is a bit of a mystery going around two turns, but she is the class of the field without question. Peter Miller pupil will be tough to upend with anything resembling her best performance.

#6 Horologist (4-1) ran some big races as a sophomore and seems poised for a strong four-year-old campaign for Richard Baltas. Gemologist filly toppled champion Jaywalk in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) in the summer, and she followed it up with a strong third in a deep Cotillion (G1) at Parx. New Jersey-bred has trained well at Santa Anita in advance of the affair, and she will have regular pilot Joe Bravo in the stirrups.

La Canada Wagers

$10 Exacta Box: 6-7 ($20)
$1 Superfecta: 6,7 with 6,7 with 2,3 with all = ($20)

Las Cienegas Analysis

The 5 1/2-furlong dash on the green attracted just five led by unbeaten Brazilian import #3 Jolie Olimpica (6-5). Group 1 starlet has dominated three fields to date in her native land and shows promising works in preparation of her U.S. debut. Fox Hill Farms color bearer gets Lasix and looks formidable for Richard Mandella. Mike Smith takes the call.

#2 Kentan Road (4-1) lacks the class of a few of her rivals in the field, but the Into Mischief mare will control the race from the start. John Sadler trainee dons a 5-2-2-0 mark on the Santa Anita lawn, and she comes in off the bench for a sharp layoff conditioner. Kentucky-bred will be in front for a long time beneath Jorge Velez.

Las Cienegas Wagers

$20 Exacta: 3 with 2 ($20)
$5 Trifecta Key: 3 with 1,2 ($10)