Seven Seek First Graded Score in Las Flores
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A group of seven older fillies and mares will be seeking their first graded stakes victory in the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (gr. III) March 8 at Santa Anita Park.
John Pendergast's speedy Arizona-bred mare Tribal Gal, Larry Konesne and Sandi Mattei's Sagebrush Queen, and Steve Knapp-trained filly Harlington's Rose are the only graded stakes-placed entrants for the six-furlong test over Santa Anita's dirt course.
Harlington's Rose drew the inside post with jockey Joe Talamo, who rode the California-bred Harlington filly to a third-place finish in the seven-furlong Santa Monica Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 19.
Tribal Gal, by Tribal Rule, is trained by Kory Owens and will leave the gate from the outside post with Santa Anita's leading rider, Rafael Bejarano.
Sagebrush Queen, trained by Jorge Gutierrez, and is coming off an extended layoff after a third in the Great Lady M Stakes (gr. II) at Los Alamitos Racecourse July 12. Prior to the Great Lady M, the 5-year-old Unbridled Energy mare won back-to-back six-furlong tests, including the Desert Stormer Stakes at Santa Anita June. 15.
Four-time winner Global Hottie will make her graded debut, but has made the best of her six career starts, including a gate-to-wire optional-claiming victory last time out at Santa Anita, going 6 1/2 furlongs Jan. 18. Victor Espinoza will get the return call on the 4-year-old, Bob Baffert-trained Dixie Chatter filly and break from post 3 for Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman.
Patriotic Brother and Meinertzhageni display less back class, but could also be contenders coming off wins at lower levels. Yup Racing's 5-year-old Patriotic Brother won at six furlongs in a $16,000 claiming race at Santa Anita Feb. 28 and is turning around quickly to make her stakes debut. Rockingham Ranch's Meinertzhageni also won last month in a 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming event Feb. 21, where she was claimed by trainer Peter Miller.
Liza Doolittle Day rounds out the field and all seven entrants will carry 118 pounds.
Las Flores S. (gr. III)
Santa Anita Park , Sunday, March 08, 2015, Race 8
- 6f
- Dirt
- $100,000
- 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 4:05 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Weight | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harlington's Rose (CA) | Joseph Talamo | 118 | Steve Knapp |
| 2 | Sagebrush Queen (CA) | Edwin A. Maldonado | 118 | Jorge Gutierrez |
| 3 | Global Hottie (CA) | Victor Espinoza | 118 | Bob Baffert |
| 4 | Meinertzhageni (CA) | Fernando Hernandez Perez | 118 | Peter Miller |
| 5 | Liza Doolittle Day (FL) | Drayden Van Dyke | 118 | Doug F. O'Neill |
| 6 | Patriotic Brother (KY) | Martin A. Pedroza | 118 | Patrick L. Biancone |
| 7 | Tribal Gal (AZ) | Rafael Bejarano | 118 | R. Kory Owens |