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Post-Race Review Superstar filly Stardom Bound was on display again in the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I), despite being blocked inside of rivals until the top of the stretch, when the gray daughter of Tapit powered to a 1 1/4 length victory. Ridden by regular partner Mike Smith, Stardom Bound went off as the 2-5 favorite in a field of eight, and paid $2.80 to win.
CASE numbers choice Haka, at 12-1, finished a rallying second, nipping 4-1 Saucey Evening for third. The trifecta paid $20.60. Bobby Frankel is now the trainer of Stardom Bound, last year’s Eclipse Award Champion Two Year Old Filly, for IEAH Stables, who purchased the filly for $5,700,000 at last year’s Fasig Tipton November Sale.
Pre-Race Analysis A huge weekend of racing at Santa Anita, including five major stakes, kicks off on Saturday with the one mile, $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I). The newly crowned Eclipse Award Champion Two Year Old Filly of 2008, Stardom Bound, will start the 2009 season in the Las Virgenes, The three-time Grade 1 winner last raced on October 24th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), resulting in a dramatic come-from-behind victory for the Tapit filly. Stardom Bound is 3/5 morning line, although her strong CASE numbers aren’t off the charts by any means. Stardom Bound earned a 95 for Aerobic Efficiency in the Juvenile Fillies, and received a 108 for Aerobic Efficiency in the Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I), both races which are run over the Santa Anita surface. Mike Smith retains the mount for new trainer Bobby Frankel. Breaking from the rail is Navigator, a filly with two wins in three starts lifetime for trainer Ron Ellis. Last out, when winning a turf stakes race on December 28, Navigator received an 83 for Stride Quality and a 92 for Endurance. Victor Espinoza will ride the filly, who worked a bullet six furlongs on January 31st in 1:12.1.
Pinkarella on the outside is drawing some interest, as the Malibu Moon filly won her debut for trainer Doug O’Neill. State-bred Saucey Evening won the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes on December 27th by 2 1/2 lengths, and leading jockey Garrett Gomez chose to ride Saucey Evening over Haka, who was a disappointing 2nd last out in the Santa Ysabel (gr. III). Haka ran a 96 for Aerobic Efficiency and a 98 for Endurance in that race, and before that had received a 109 for Aerobic Efficiency. Longshot Century Park defeated Haka in the Santa Ysabel, and will be a longshot again on Saturday.
Foreign runner African Skies (GB) will make a United States debut for new trainer Patrick Biancone. The Johannesburg filly won a Grade 3 race in Europe, her only victory to date.
Nan, who ran a strong 95 for Stride Quality when third last out in the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II), and the frustrating Toro Bonito complete the field of nine.
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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.
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