Lady T in Pursuit of Second Consecutive Las Flores Win

Lady T , who rallied to win the Las Flores Stakes (G3) last winter at Santa Anita Park, seeks a repeat victory in the $100,000 six-furlong race contested on New Year's Day.

The 5-year-old daughter of Into Mischief   won just a single race in four starts since her Las Flores win on the final day of 2022, though she twice managed fourth in graded company. Her sole victory of 2023 for owner C R K Stable came in an allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar during the summer, and her worst effort resulted in a sixth-place finish in the Chillingworth Stakes (G3) Sept. 29 in her last outing.

Trainer John Shirreffs runs a freshened filly Monday under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. The 7-2 shot on the morning line breaks from the inside post.

The other race favorites, Sweet Azteca  (6-5) and Hot Peppers  (5-2), return from extended layoffs.

• Sweet Azteca steps up in class from the maiden ranks after a fast debut victory at Churchill Downs May 2 for trainer Michael McCarthy.
• Hot Peppers returns following a long break after finishing fourth in the Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course in September 2022. A newly-turned 5-year-old mare, she previously raced on the East Coast for trainers Ronald Spatz and Rudy Rodriguez. The grade 3 winner and grade 1-placed daughter of Khozan   now makes her first start for trainer Phil D'Amato.