Island of Love and Lucky Girl Renew Rivalry in Senorita

A pair of talented Irish-breds, Phil D'Amato's Island of Love  and the Richard Baltas- trained Lucky Girl , will meet for the third time as they head a field of six sophomore fillies going one mile on turf in the May 7 $100,000 Senorita Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.

The 58th running of the Senorita Stakes will highlight a 10-race card locally, while admission gates will open early at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday in order to accommodate a tremendous undercard from Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day. First live race post time at Santa Anita will be at 12:30 p.m.

Although favored in two ungraded stakes at one mile on turf, the Lady of Shamrock on Jan. 30 and the China Doll on March 6, Island of Love was defeated by identical 1 3/4-length margins by Lucky Girl on both occasions but will hope to turn the tables on Saturday.

Off at 9-5 in the China Doll, Island of Love was in a good stalking position while second about one length off the lead heading to the far turn when Lucky Girl, ridden by Joe Bravo, seized the initiative, making an early run for it at the 3 1/2-furlong pole enroute to victory at odds of 6-1.

Although she finished fourth, Island of Love never threw in the towel and her connections are hoping that Lucky Girl, who finished a disappointing fifth, beaten nine lengths in the Providencia Stakes Presented by The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G3T) at 1 1/8 miles on turf April 9, could be vulnerable as Island of Love approaches the Senorita as a fresh filly.

Ridden in her last two starts by Flavien Prat, Island of Love will now be handled by Juan Hernandez. Owned by R Unicorn Stable, Island of Love was unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile in Italy and has two wins and one second-place finish from four overall starts.

Winless in her first three starts, Lucky Girl approached the Lady of Shamrock, her fourth stateside start, as a maiden but powered to a convincing 1 3/4-length score over Island of Love. An equally impressive winner of the China Doll, she was off as the 2-1 favorite in the Providencia, but was no match for the Bob Hess Jr. trained Cairo Memories .

Owned by Panic Stable, Lucky Girl will be ridden for the first time by Ramon Vazquez. Third in her career debut July 24 in Ireland, Lucky Girl is two for seven lifetime with earnings of $115,663.

Baltas is also solidly represented by another Irish-bred, Sterling Crest , who was second, beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Cairo Memories in the Providencia. Third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Lucky Girl two starts back in the China Doll, she finished a half-length clear of Island of Love and with a return to a flat mile, rates a huge chance with Victor Espinoza taking over for Umberto Rispoli.

Owned by Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran, Sterling Crest is 7-1-3-2 overall with earnings of $120,240.

Rounding out the field is Fuente Ovejuna , group 3-placed Delmona , and Baby Steps .

Entries: Senorita S. (G3T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, May 07, 2022, Race 5

• Grade IIIT
• 1m
• Turf
• $100,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 2:49 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Lucky Girl (IRE)	Ramon A. Vazquez	124	Richard Baltas	2/1
2	2Sterling Crest (IRE)	Victor Espinoza	120	Richard Baltas	5/2
3	3Island of Love (IRE)	Juan J. Hernandez	120	Philip D'Amato	5/2
4	4Fuente Ovejuna (GB)	Edwin A. Maldonado	120	Leonard Powell	12/1
5	5Delmona (IRE)	Tyler Baze	120	Jeff Mullins	3/1
6	6Baby Steps (FL)	Diego A. Herrera	120	Ryan Hanson	12/1