Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita - $300,000 (G1)

Las Vegas, NV -- The 55th running of the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes takes place on Saturday, January 28th for fillies and mares four years old and upward. The $300,000 purse will be contested at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The race covers seven furlongs and is raced on Santa Anita's main dirt track. Seven entries will run in the 9th race on Saturday's card with a post time of 4:00 PM PT.

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The Santa Monica Stakes is one of the first Grade 1 races of 2012 and is the marquee race on Santa Anita's Sunshine Millions Day. It has attracted quite a field that will unfortunately be without rumored starter Turbulent Decent who is resting after a disappointing effort at the La Brea Stakes.

Teddy's Promise is the unquestioned headliner of the field but will certainly be challenged by a number of stakes winners including Sugarinthemorning and Rumor. Here is a brief rundown of the entrants for the Santa Monica and what has brought them to this point.

The Contenders:

Teddy's Promise - Teddy's Promise won the La Brea Stakes over the same distance on the same track on December 31st beating such standouts as Turbulent Decent and two entrants in this very event - Rumor and Sugarinthemorning. Trainer Dan Ellis has Teddy's Promise on a three race win streak - definitely a favorite in this race and perhaps a good bet to start in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint later this year.

Rumor - is a multiple stakes winner although still has yet to break through in a graded stakes race. Rumor has won five of seven starts and has not finished worse than second in any race. Rumor is coming off a win in the Kalookan Queen Handicap.

Sugarinthemorning - finished second to Teddy's Promise in the La Brea Stakes and is a dual stakes winner. Sugarinthemorning has the speed and the experience at Santa Anita to run well here.

The Others:

She's Cheeky - She's Cheeky is coming off a five month break after a second place finish at the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar in August. At seven years old, She's Cheeky is the veteran of this group.

Sweet Home Aspen - Sweet Home Aspen raced in the La Brea Stakes and finished fourth on this same track.

Big Tiz - finished third in the Kalookan Queen Handicap and was runner-up in the Grade 3 Railbird Stakes in May.

Bella Diamante - Bella Diamante's best finish recently was a fourth in the Kalookan Queen - not expected to be a factor in this race.

The Santa Monica Stakes is Race 9 on Santa Anita's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:00 PM PT.