Taris Heads Short Field in LA Woman Stakes

Taris, an easy winner of the Rancho Bernardo Stakes (gr. III) at Del Mar in her first start of the year, heads the $100,000 LA Woman Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park Oct. 4.

 

The LA Woman, which drew a field of five, is the third race on a nine-race Sunday program. The stakes will be run at 6 1/2 furlongs.

 

Owned by John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, Taris, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Flatter  , was purchased by the Coolmore connections for $2.35 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale last year. She was sent to the barn of Simon Callaghan.

 

Taris, in her first start after the sale, finished a close second in the La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita in late December but suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture to her right ankle that required surgery. She returned Aug. 16 to capture the Rancho Bernardo at 6 1/2 furlongs to begin her shortened 2015 season.

 

Gary Stevens, who rode Taris in the Rancho Bernardo, has the call as the 123-pound highweight from post 5.

 

California-bred Uzziel, a three-time stakes winner, comes off a 4 1/4 length win in the restricted CERF Stakes at six furlongs Sept. She finished fifth in last year's La Brea. Uzziel, a 4-year-old Harlington filly owned by her breeders, James and Tammy McKenney, is trained by Keith Desormeaux and will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux from post 4 at 118 pounds.