Cipriani Looks to Capitalize in Santa Ysabel

With Tenma  and Vodka With a Twist , two of the top 3-year-old dirt fillies in Southern California, sitting out the March 2 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park, opportunity knocks for six others in the 1 1/16-mile dirt race.

The likely favorite is Speedway Stables' Cipriani , a debut maiden winner at Santa Anita Oct. 27 and a distant runner-up to Tenma in the Feb. 2 Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) there. Cipriani, a daughter of the late Bernardini, is one of three entrants for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, the other being Michael Lund Petersen's Maysam  and Baoma's Howin .

Baffert has won nine Santa Ysabels, including the past four runnings.

Maysam, racing with blinkers off, is entered on a quick turnaround after finishing a troubled sixth at 1-10 odds in the Feb. 16 Sunland Park Oaks after an initial victory at Santa Anita Jan. 24. Her apparent speed could make her a threat.

Howin won on debut Oct. 12 in a route before finishing fourth in the seven-furlong Santa Ynez Stakes Jan. 5.

Others in Sunday's $100,000 race include Just as Fancy , who finished last of three competitors in the Las Virgenes after dueling with Tenma early; Supa Speed , a stakes-placed Justify   filly racing on dirt for the first time after five turf starts; and Hey Jessie , a stakes-winning California-bred.

Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points are up for grabs in the Santa Ysabel, distributed on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale if all six fillies start.