Juvenile Fillies Battle in Blue Norther at Santa Anita

A field of nine line up on the turf in Sunday’s $75,000 Bluer Norther at Santa Anita. (Photo credit: © Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com)

A field of nine two-year-old fillies line up in Sunday’s $75,000 Blue Norther going a mile on the turf, one of two stakes on the afternoon at Santa Anita.

The $75,000 Eddie Logan drew nine juveniles who will also travel a mile on the turf in the sixth race on the card on the second day of the Santa Anita meeting.

All went well on opening day, all the horses coming back safe and sound and we even cashed a few tickets. In yesterday’s featured race, the $300,000 La Brea (G1), our top pick Hard Not to Love made a good late rally under Mike Smith to get up and return $25.20 for the victory.

The heavy favorite Bellafina ran second and completed a $2 exacta that paid $61.40. We hit the trifecta as well which paid $155.00 for a $1.

Smith won his 216^th Grade 1 race aboard the upset winner and broke the record held by Jerry Bailey in the very next race aboard Omaha Beach in the Malibu (G1).

The Peter Miller trained Laura’s Light is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the Blue Norther. The filly set the early fractions and could not hold off Alms in the Jimmy Durante (G3) at Del Mar in her second career start and first on turf.

Four in the field exit the Jimmy Durante including our top pick Overjoyed who was sixth beaten six lengths and appears to have a shot at turning the tables on her foes this afternoon.

Let’s head out to Santa Anita for Sunday’s featured race of the day:

Santa Anita

Santa Anita Race 8 The Blue Norther (Post time 3:24 PT)

5 Overjoyed 8-1

8 Croughavouke 7-2

6 Laura’s Light 3-1

2 Guitty 5-1

Overjoyed

The Drysdale trainee is one of four in here that excites the Jimmy Durante (G3) at Del Mar. The filly was sent off at 19-1, stalking the early pace and weakening to finish sixth. She broke her maiden two back in a sharp effort at Del Mar in her third career starts and second on turf. Drysdale through enough of this gal to try her in the Juvenile Fillies Turf a Del Mar back in September. She is well bred, by Medaglia d’Oro out of a Pulpit mare that has dropped four other winners, two of them also turf winners and two are stakes winners, top earner War Story ($2.9 million). She has shown improvement in each of her starts and Smith, who was aboard our top pick Hard Not to Love in the La Brea at $25.20 sticks.

Croughavouke

This gal also exits the Durante and she made a mild late run to finish fourth at 6-1. Shew was second in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Surfer Girl before running sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at 31-1. It looks as if she is going to get some pace to run at here.

Laura’s Light

She broke her maiden on the Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields in her debut and then was sent off at 24-1 in the Durante in her stakes debut. She carved out the early fractions and held on to the runner up spot. It was her first go after landing with the Peter Miller barn. She will be part pf the early pace here and looks eligible to move forward in her second start for the barn. She is out of a stakes placed Muqtarib mare that has dropped four other winners, top earner graded stakes placed Barry Lee ($156,928).