Three-year-old fillies will go one mile in the weekend topper at Santa Anita in the $300,000 Las Virgenes S. (G1). A nice cast of ladies is expected, including unebeaten Hollywood Starlet (G1) queen Streaming, from the barn of Bob Baffert. Well-bred daughter of Smart Strike has looked the part as a lightly raced one with a ton of potential, and she could even move forward in this affair in making her dirt debut, an oval where she has trained very well on.
Fashion Plate finally broke through with a fine maiden tally most recently and the expensive daughter of Old Fashioned could be getting really good right now for Simon Callaghan. The dark bay is plenty fast and might be the one to catch. Arethusa was a most impressive romper of the Sharp Cat S. two back which preceded an even fifth in the Hollywood Starlet for Eoin Harty. The filly by A.P. Indy will be a late danger. Recent maiden heroine Artemis, superb first out winner Koukla and Tastes Like Candy, a good second in both the Starlet and Santa Ynez (G2), add to the depth of the likely field.
While a steppingstone on the road to the Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks, the one-mile race for three-year-old fillies is prestigious in its own right and will award points toward a starting berth in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
Sharing the Saturday card with the Las Virgenes is the Grade 2, $200,000 Arcadia sending a competitive group of 10 a mile on the Santa Anita turf.(G2). South American standout Winning Prize, a close third in the Citation H. (G2) most recently, is among the top draws. The Neil Drysdale charge should be acclimated now to the U. S. and set for a big 2014.
First post on Saturday at Santa Anita is set for approx. 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT
2014 G1 $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes Information
Date: Saturday, February 1
Where: Santa Anita Race Track – Arcadia, California
Post time: 12:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT
Distance: 1 Mile Dirt
Conditions: FOR FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD
Purse: $300,000
Las Virgenes Stakes wagering may include:
Field and odds for the G1 $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes
| PP | Horse | A/S | M/E | Wgt | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saintly Joan | 3 F | L | 117 | Pedroza Martin A. | O’Hara John |
| 2 | Fashion Plate | 3 F | L | 117 | Stevens Gary L. | Callaghan Simon |
| 3 | Arethusa | 3 F | 117 | Nakatani Corey S. | Harty Eoin G. | |
| 4 | Artemis | 3 F | L | 117 | Smith Mike E. | Hollendorfer Jerry |
| 5 | Earthflight (GB) | 3 F | 117 | Baze Tyler | Vienna Darrell | |
| 6 | Sushi Empire | 3 F | L | 117 | Espinoza Victor | Harty Eoin G. |
| 7 | Taste Like Candy | 3 F | L | 117 | Bejarano Rafael | Hollendorfer Jerry |
| 8 | Streaming | 3 F | L | 122 | Garcia Martin | Baffert Bob |