A field of seven line up in the $100,000 Santa Ynez (G2) on Sunday at Santa Anita (Photo credit: Cheryl Ann Quigley / Shutterstock.com).
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sends out four of the seven entered in Sunday’s $200,000 Santa Ynez (G2), a seven-furlong test for three-year-old fillies.
The race is a Road to the Kentucky Oaks points race with 10-4-2-1 points up for grabs.
Baffert has entered four but has said he may scratch Starlet (G1) winner Varda (3-1) and keep her going a route of ground.
That would still leave him with a strong trio led by the 5-2 morning line favorite Kalypso, who was the pacesetter in the Starlet before getting run down by her stablemate.
Exotic West (3-1), who broke her maiden in her debut and Frosteria (5-1) who is 0 for 3 with three seconds are the other two Baffert trainees.
The John Sadler trained Queengol (4-1) ran second in the Anoakia and Desi Arnaz in her last two starts and looks like a player.
Desi Arnaz Stakes Replay
Nasreddine is sent out by trainer Michael McCarthy and was third in the Starlet in her stakes debut.
“She’s shortening up a little bit,” McCarthy allowed. “I thought she was a little bit even through the lane in the Starlet, but I’m looking for this to help her out.”
Completing the field is Brilliant Cut (15-1), who was claimed by Doug O’Neill out of her last start, her maiden breaker for a $50,000 tag.
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Let’s head out to Santa Anita for Sunday’s featured race of the day:
Santa Anita Race 8 The Santa Yzez (G2) 4:05 PT
4 Queengol 4-1
7 Kalypso 5-2
6 Frosteria 5-1
3 Exotic West 3-1
Queengol
The Sadler trainee is up against three and maybe for Baffert foes in this spot. She graduated in her debut at Del mar going 5 ½ furlongs and then was second behind Kalypso in the Anoakia in her stakes debut here going six furlongs. Last out in the Desi Arnaz at Del Mar at 6 ½ furlongs she was bumped and knocked into a foe coming out of the gate then had to steady. She settled in next to last in the early going and finished up well to grab the runner up spot while no match for the winner Astute who drew away to win by 7 ½ lengths. A cleaner start and should be forwardly placed and looks capable of moving forward off her last out and the seven furlongs does not pose a problem. She is out of the stakes winner Nechez Dawn ($195,010).
Kalypso
This filly is one of the quartet entered by Baffert. She cuts back to seven furlongs after setting the early fractions and was unable to hold off the winner and stablemate Varda in the Starlet, coming up 1 ½ lengths short while four clear of the rest of the field. The blinkers come off and she will appreciate the cut back. She won the Anoakia going gate to wire two back over the main track here. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers and picks up Rosario.
Frosteria
The daughter of Frosted is still a maiden, running second in each of her three starts, last out going a mile at Los Al. She set the early fractions but was no match for the winner while 13 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. She earned the top last out speed fig but is going to feel ore pace pressure in this spot. The Godolphin runner is out of the stakes winner Hystericalady ($2.3 million) who has dropped five winners Lady Montdore ($318,462).
