Birdatthewire Heads Santa Maria Field

Grade I winner Birdatthewire will make her second start of 2016 in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 13 at Santa Anita Park.



Although her top-level score came at one turn in the seven-furlong La Brea Stakes (gr. I) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, she also showed two-turn ability earlier in 2015, when she won the Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II) for trainer Dale Romans.



ANGST: Birdatthewire Prevails in La Brea



Since moving under the care of Tom Proctor, the 4-year-old Summer Bird filly owned by Forum Racing IV was no match for Taris in the Jan. 16 La Canada Stakes (gr. II), but she did finish second, ahead of fellow Santa Maria entrant Yahilwa.



DP Racing's Yahilwa, winner of last year's Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne Racecourse, is one of the three graded winners in the field, along with Living The Life, back-to-back winner of the Presque Isle Downs Master Stakes (gr. II) a sprint over a synthetic surface.



Knocking on the door is Stonestreet Stable's Tara's Tango, who finished just a neck back in third last time out in the seven-furlong Santa Monica (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 23. The Unbridled's Song filly also came in second by a nose to champion Stellar Wind in last year's Summertime Oaks (gr. II).



Also entered are graded stakes-placed Gas Total and Kyriaki, along with stakes-placed Star Act and allowance winner Big Break.