Post-Race Review
April Pride (GB) won Santa Anita’s Sunday feature, the China Doll Stakes for three-year-old fillies on the grass. Sent off as the 3 – 1 second choice, April Pride sat in mid pack throughout most of the race, stalking leaders Gold Goddess and Deeveetee before uncoiling around the far turn and drawing away into the stretch. Ridden confidently by David Flores, April Pride scored by two lengths on the wire, with Acting Lady running second, Century Park finishing third, and disappointing favorite Saucey Evening winding up fourth.
The final time for the one mile race was 1:35.40. By Falbrav (IRE) and out of the Theatrical (IRE) mare Hasta, April Pride is trained by James Cassidy for Forging Oaks Farm. The filly paid $9.00 to win.
Pre-Race Analysis
The listed China Doll Stakes, worth $70,000, highlights Sunday’s Santa Anita card. Three-year-old fillies will go one mile on the turf here, and a field of nine is scheduled to compete.
California-bred Saucey Evening is the morning line favorite after finishing third behind Stardom Bound in the Las Virgenes (gr. I) on February 7th. In that race, Saucey Evening earned a 101 for Aerobic Efficiency. The More Than Ready filly has three wins in seven lifetime sarts for trainer Graham Motion, and Garrett Gomez will ride for the seventh straight time.
April Pride (GB) has finished second in each of the last two starts, both going one mile on the Santa Anita turf course. Last out, when second to Burg Berg who ran in yesterday’s Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I), April Pride earned a 93 for both Aerobic Efficiency and Endurance. David Flores will ride for James Cassidy.
Gold Goddess could make the race interesting. The former claimer finished second in the La Habra Stakes (gr. III) on February 1st and has worked steadily since for trainer Walther Solis. Jose Valdivia, Jr. will ride the daughter of Gold Case, who has two wins in six stakes lifetime.
Acting Lady is 10 – 1 morning line for trainer Doug O’Neill. Fifth in the La Habra, Acting Lady hasn’t won since taking a maiden special weight at Hollywood Park in November going 1 mile on the turf course. That maiden win drew CASE numbers of a 92 for Aerobic Efficiency, a 95 for Stride Quality, and a 101 for Endurance, so Acting Lady has the back class to make her capable of winning this race.
Century Park rounds out the list of contenders. Trained by Bob Baffert, Century Park upset the Santa Ysabel (gr. III) on January 11th, but returned from that effort to finished 6th in the Las Virgenes. John Velasquez will replace Tyler Baze in the China Doll.
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Emily Shields s a regular contributor to Case the Race. She has written for California Thoroughbred, Churchill Downs media, and international racing magazines.
