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Post-Race Review With the scratch of Heartless Vixen, a field of five was left for the Santa Paula Stakes (gr. III), a race that ultimately went to racing’s newest star in Carlsbad. Sent off as a heavy favorite at 3/2, Carlsbad bolted out of the gate and dueled outside of Empressive Lady in :21.83 and 44:08. The closers came up to the front running Carlsbad at the top of the stretch, but the Arizona-bred daughter of Rocky Bar kicked clear again under Tyler Baze and cruised home easily.
Carlsbad, trained by Jeff Mullins, finished the 6 1/2 furlong race in 1:14.65, paying $5 even to win. Ultra Blend finished second and Pinkarella was third, ahead of Beltene and Empressive Lady, who dropped back to trail at the wire. Carlsbad is now undefeated in five starts.
Pre-Race Analysis The twenty-fourth Santa Paula Stakes (gr. III) takes place on Sunday at Santa Anita. The 6 1/2 furlong main track event will feature six three-year-old fillies vying for a purse of $100,000. It is an Arizona-bred filly, Carlsbad, who will go favored. Undefeated in four starts, Carlsbad makes her California debut for trainer Jeff Mullins, having previously been trained by Kevin Lewis. Carslbad, a daughter of Rocky Bar, won the Arizona Juvenile Filly Stakes by a jaw dropping 19 lengths before taking the Arizona Oaks on February 21st by 13 1/4. Tyler Baze will ride the speedy front runner.
California-bred Beltene will break from the rail and should be the second choice. Undefeated in the first three starts of her career, Beltene won the Sunshine Millions Oaks in January by a head, but is coming off a disappointing sixth place finish behind Stardom Bound in the Santa Anita Oaks. The red hot Joel Rosario will ride again for trainer Jack Carava.
Empressive Lady is a royally bred daughter of Empire Maker and has two wins in six lifetime starts. After finishing sixth in the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) on January 17, Empressive Lady rebounded to score in an Optional Claimer on February 11th going six furlongs. Jeff Mullins also conditions this filly, and Alex Solis will be aboard for the first time.
Heartless Vixen is undefeated in two starts for trainer Ron Ellis. The Lion Heart filly took a six furlong maiden special weight on February 6th, then returned on March 4th to take an allowance race by 4 1/4 lengths over seven furlongs. Cutting back in distance today, Heartless Vizen could be dangerous if Carlsbad, Empressive Lady, and Pinkarella hook up on the lead. Pinkarella is the longest shot in the field on the morning line, but could be overlooked. The Malibu Moon filly won by 5 1/4 first out at Hollywood Park on December 21st, then finished eighth after a slow start in the grade I Las Virgenes Stakes to Stardom Bound. Pinkarella has had a bullet workout since then and could regain her early form for trainer Doug O’Neill.
Ultra Blend rounds out the field of six. The Richly Blended filly has four wins in six starts and has never been off the board. A stakes winner in Northern California, Ultra Blend finished third to males in a $52,000 stakes race on February 28. This is her first start in Southern California.
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Emily Shields is a regular contributor to Case the Race. She has written for California Thoroughbred, Churchill Downs media, and international racing magazines.
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