Top Cal-Breds Square Off in Great Lady M.

Los Alamitos Race Course's final graded stakes of its two-week summer meet will feature a pair of California-bred heavyweights in Warren's Veneda and Sunday Rules.

Benjamin Warren's grade I-winning homebred Warren's Veneda and Nick Alexander's undefeated homebred Sunday Rules will face off in the $200,000 Great Lady M. Stakes (gr. II), with several other apparent contenders in the field of nine fillies and mares.

Warren's Veneda hit her stride early in the year when the 5-year-old won three straight stakes—including the Santa Maria (gr. II) and Santa Margarita (gr. I)—all at Santa Anita Park for trainer Craig Lewis. The Affirmative mare took a step back, however, when she ran third of four in the Vanity Stakes (gr. I) May 9, but was a game second to Beholder in the June 13 Adoration Stakes (gr. III) last time out.

"They beat the field by (7 1/4 lengths) and the key to it was she was giving Beholder weight," Lewis said. "That was pretty encouraging."

What is a concern for Lewis is the Great Lady M.'s 6 1/2-furlong distance, his mare's first race at less than seven furlongs since the Oct. 11 California Distaff Handicap at Santa Anita, in which she finished sixth.

"We want to win, but it might not be realistic to think she can get up at 6 1/2 (furlongs)," Lewis said. "It will be a good work to get her ready for the Clement Hirsch (gr. I, at Del Mar Aug. 1), when she sees Beholder again. I like the timing of it. But if she wins, I won't mind taking my cut."

Warren's Veneda will break from post 7 Saturday with jockey Joe Talamo, who hasn't ridden the mare since August of last year. Her regular rider, Tyler Baze, will be aboard Sunday Rules.

Though the front-running 4-year-old daughter of Tribal Rule will be making her graded debut, Sunday Rules has been a sprinting standout in her lightly-raced career.

In five victories, Sunday Rules has won by an average of nearly 5 1/2 lengths, all in races of 6 1/2 furlongs or less, including the six-furlong Spring Fever Stakes for California-breds May 23 at Santa Anita.

The pace will be far from uncontested, however, as just to her right, in post 6, will be fellow speedster Fantastic Style, a Bob Baffert-trainee who won the Angels Flight Stakes last time out at Santa Anita May 16. Graded stakes-placed Amaranth, who drew the rail, should also show speed.

"I expected a solid field and I trained her accordingly. The screws are tight," Sunday Rules' trainer Phil D'Amato said of her two most recent workouts, a bullet six furlongs in 1:11 1/5 and five furlongs in :59 1/5. "If we're going to compete in graded-stakes company, we're going to find some fields like this. My filly is going to go out there, and if they go with her, so be it."

Graded-stakes winners Living the Life and Harlington's Rose will likely need a significant late kick to hit the wire first in the Great Lady M.

Rounding out the field is graded stakes-placed runners Clearly Confused and Legacy, along with Louisiana-bred stakes winner Ramona's Wildcat.