Indian Blessing the star attraction of La Brea
Denied a second Breeders’ Cup triumph in as many years in the Filly & Mare
Sprint two months ago, champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) aims to get
back in the winner’s circle Saturday as the marquee attraction of the $250,000
La Brea S.
(G1) over seven furlongs of Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride. The divisional leader of
her generation as a juvenile, the Bob Baffert trainee has carved a niche this
season as sprinter, and should prove hard to beat given her excellent 11-8-3-0
career mark.
A confident winner of the Prioress S. (G1), Test S. (G1) and Gallant Bloom H.
(G2) prior to the Breeder’s Cup, Indian Blessing grabbed a short lead with a
furlong to go in that seven-eighths test, but could not repel the incredible
burst put forth by Ventura (Chester House), who with four lengths to spare gave
Indian Blessing the second worst defeat of her career. Back with those of her
own age, Indian Blessing figures hard to overthrow with John Velazquez.
INDYANNE (Indian Charlie), a late withdrawal from the Filly & Mare Sprint due
to illness, seeks to rebound from a loss to the Grade 1 veteran Siren Lure
(Joyeux Danseur) in the Sausalito S. at Golden Gate Fields, which was her first
start against males. Victorious in the Azalea S. (G3) and Thoroughbred Club of
America S. (G3) early in the year, she met her only other reversal when second
in the Victory Ride S. (G3) at Saratoga following an awkward start.
BSHARPSONATA (Pulpit), formerly in the barn of trainer Tim Salzman, made a
successful debut for Todd Pletcher in the November 27 Playa Del Rey S. at
Hollywood Park, rolling over six rivals by 1 1/2 lengths in the six-furlong
contest. That score followed a close runner-up finish in the Ashland S. (G1)
over Polytrack and victories last winter in the Forward Gal S. (G2) and Davona
Dale S. (G2), the former over the La Brea’s seven-furlong trip.
The other major name in the La Brea is COUNTRY STAR (Empire Maker), a dual
Grade 1 winner last year over synthetic who has had an abbreviated campaign this
year for Bobby Frankel. After faltering in the Ashland and Kentucky Oaks (G1),
Country Star switched to the turf to capture an allowance/optional claimer over
Saratoga’s inner turf on August 18, which was her most recent outing.
The La Brea will be preceded on Saturday by the $70,000
Eddie
Logan S. for two-year-olds at one mile on the turf, and the $125,000
California
Breeders’ Champion S. for state-bred two-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
The Eddie Logan will feature a rematch between FLASHMANS PAPERS (GB) (Exceed and
Excel) and KELLY LEAK (Runaway Groom), the one-two finishers in an overnight
event at Hollywood Park earlier this month. A stakes winner at Royal Ascot in
June, Flashmans Papers was a nose in front of Kelly Leak, who was disqualified
from first in Del Mar’s Best Pal S. (G2) two races earlier.
In the California Breeders’ Champion, stakes winners SAUCEY EVENING (More
Than Ready) and TEN CHURROS (High Brite) might get a test from stakes newcomers
STRETCHINTHELIMITS (In Excess [Ire]) and CHALULA ONE (Bertrando).
Sunday’s nine-race program at Santa Anita is headlined by the $150,000
San
Gabriel H. (G2) for older horses over nine grassy furlongs. Four runners
from the November 28 Citation H. (G1) will re-unite, a list that includes Grade
1 veteran BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan), Grade 2 winners MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean) and
PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]), plus Irish Group 3 victor FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru).
OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique), a half-length second in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1)
earlier this month, and Chilean champion PORFIDO (Chi) (Mash One [Chi]), unraced
since finishing third in the Sunset H. (G2) in July, also made the field of
nine.
INTERNALLYFLAWLESS (Giant’s Causeway) figures to be a solid favorite in
Sunday’s $70,000
Blue
Norther S. over one mile on turf. The juvenile broke her maiden over the
course and distance in late September prior to a close second-place effort in
the Miesque S. (G3) across town at Hollywood. The English Group 3-placed APRIL
PRIDE (GB) (Falbrav [Ire]), who beat just one rival in the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Fillies Turf in her U.S. debut, might fare better this time having been
given more time to acclimatize.