Vasilika Ready to Roll in Megahertz Stakes

Al Schlaich Stables, Hollendorfer, Gatto Racing, and George Todaro's Vasilika will headline a field of seven older fillies and mares going a flat mile on turf in the $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3T) Jan. 21 at Santa Anita Park.

Vasilika, who was claimed by Hollendorfer for $40,000 on Feb. 11, 2018, had an eight-race win streak broken when she finished fourth, beaten two lengths as the 2-1 favorite in the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar Dec. 2.

One of the best claims in recent memory, this 5-year-old Skipshot mare won nine of her 11 starts last year and banked $632,328.  A winner of seven out of her eight races over the Santa Anita turf, Vasilika has proven versatile enough to lay close or rally from off the pace.

Flavien Prat will be riding her for the 10th consecutive time.

Another serious contender in Monday's race will be 4-year-old Amandine. Owned by Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, and Shanderella Stables and trained by Jeff Mullins, the English-bred filly won her North American debut Nov. 22 in an allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar. 

Amandine replicated followed that winning effort with another score in the one-mile Lady of Shamrock Stakes on the grass Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Wheeled back three days later for the American Oaks (G1T), the daughter of Shamardal finished a respectable third behind Competitionofideas to close out her sophomore season. 

Drayden Van Dyke, who was aboard for her first two Southern California starts, will again have the call.

Team Valor International's La Sardane enters the Megahertz with an off-the-board finish in the Nov. 4 Goldikova Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita. A group 2 winner at a mile on grass in France at 3, La Sardane earned her first graded score for trainer Neil Drysdale in only her third start in the United States, taking the June 7 Intercontinental Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park. 

The 5-year-old Kingsala mare will partner with Joel Rosario for the first time in the Megahertz and will break from the far outside post 7. 

Entries: Megahertz S. (G3T)

Santa Anita Park, Monday, January 21, 2019, Race 8

• Grade IIIT
• 1m
• Turf
• $100,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 3:34 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Ms Bad Behavior (ON)	Mike E. Smith	120	Richard Baltas	4/1
2	2Zaffinah (IRE)	Rafael Bejarano	120	Jack Carava	20/1
3	3Vasilika (KY)	Flavien Prat	124	Jerry Hollendorfer	6/5
4	4Amandine (GB)	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Jeff Mullins	3/1
5	5Quebec (KY)	Geovanni Franco	120	Richard Baltas	6/1
6	6Last Promise Kept (KY)	Joseph Talamo	120	Thomas F. Proctor	15/1
7	7La Sardane (FR)	Joel Rosario	122	Neil D. Drysdale	6/1