A trio of Grade 2 events will take place this weekend at ‘The Great Race Place’, starting with the Saturday feature – the $200,000 Santa Maria S. (G2). This 1 1/16 miles race for fillies and mares looks like a nice betting option, with a mostly wide-open field. Grade 3 queen Stanwyck, La Canada S. (G2) third Ondine, Iotapa, a fine second in the Santa Monica (G2), La Canada runner-up Let Faith Arise, Paseana S. upsetter Golden Production and multiple graded vixen Fiftyshadesofhay, are all likely for this affair.
On Sunday, sophomores will travel seven furlongs in the $200,000 San Vicente S. (G2). A sharp field is likely for this one-turn event including the interesting Cherubim, who exploded to a fine maiden score in his second lifetime run. The Simon Callaghan trainee showed little in his debut but moved up considerably last time, and the son of Henny Hughes looks to be a force to be reckoned with.
San Pedro S. star Indianapolis is unbeaten from two lifetime races for Baffert and will surely be the one to beat if he lands in this spot. The well-bred son of Medaglia d’Oro still has room to develop and the extra ground here should be of no worry for the colt. Grade 3-placed stakes winner Kobe’s Back, San Pedro second Papa Turf, Baffert’s impressive debut winner Roger Rocket and the unbeaten Grazen’s Hope, are also likely for this test.
Fillies and mares will go one mile on the turf course in the Monday feature at Santa Anita in the $200,000 Buena Vista S. (G2). Euro import Bee Brave, a sharp allowance victress in her U. S. debut last time, intrigues for conditioner Simon Callaghan. The daughter of Rail Link is lightly raced but unbeaten from two tries, and she could be any type going forward.
Customer Base, who won the Robert J Frankel S. (G2) in her 2013 finale, looms large in this run for Tommy Proctor. The five-year-old mare by Lemon Drop Kid picked a pretty good spot to kick off her 2014 campaign. Matriarch S. (G1) queen Egg Drop, Grade 3 turf winner Halo Dolly, Group 1 heroine Miss Serendipity and the consistently excellent Grade 2 queen Ponchatrain, look to be the main players in this one.