Santa Ysabel E

A small field of seven has been entered for Saturday’s $100,000 Santa Ysabel
S. (G3) at Santa Anita, and the morning-line favorite for the 1 1/16-mile test
is SABATINI (Five Star Day). The Patrick Biancone-trained bay miss was an
impressive five-length maiden winner in her debut two back and highly regarded
when making her two-turn bow last out in the Hollywood Starlet (G1). She ran a
nice third in that race and could add a first stakes win with this one, but
we’re going to take a stand against and go with SWEET FOURTY
(Sweetsouthernsaint).

The dark bay sophomore captured an allowance at Calder in October by 8 1/2
lengths prior to being switched from trainer Luis Olivares’ barn to that of Jeff
Mullins. Under Mullins’ tutelage, Sweet Fourty tried the turf in the Hidden Light
S., running sixth, before moving back to the main track for a nice second in the
Sharp Cat S. Both of those races saw Balance (Thunder Gulch), who went on to
finish second in the Starlet, finishing in front, though she was disqualified to
third in the Hidden Light. Sweet Fourty earned a BRIS Speed rating of 93 for her
Sharp Cat run and could show much more here with Victor Espinoza in the irons.

I CAN SEE (Flying Chevron) is the most experienced runner in this field with
11 races under her girth. Trained by Rafael Deleon, the dark bay filly broke her
maiden by a head at Hollywood Park last May and three starts later entered
stakes company, where’s she’s competed ever since. Her only other win came in a
dominating nine-length score in the Black Swan S., though she just missed by a
nose in the Bustles and Bows S. She’s been working well at Hollywood to prepare
for this one and could come with a late run to surprise here. Kerwin John has
the call.

Sabatini earned a 94 Speed rating for her debut and may have just needed a
race after that one to gain more experience, which the Starlet provided. The bay
lass shouldn’t be discounted, but we’re going to look for value elsewhere.
Garrett Gomez will be aboard.

ITTY BITTY PRETTY (El Corredor) will be making her two-turn debut in this
spot after a nice second in a Hollywood allowance in mid-November. Conditioned
by Doug O’Neill, the three-year-old bay was second that day to Diplomat Lady
(Forestry), who would go on to take the Starlet. Itty Bitty Pretty could make
her presence felt in the top three. MISS FURY (Unbridled’s Song) seems to like a
route of ground, breaking her maiden going 8 1/2 furlongs last out, and could
earn part.

HORSE B WITH YOU (Slewdledo), a second entrant from O’Neill, may try to lead
this one all the way, but she might not be speedy enough to hold on at the end.
INCUMBENT (Carson City) finished well back in the Starlet most recently and
probably isn’t up to this level quite yet. We’ll go against.