Santa Maria Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV - Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California will be the scene of the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes on Saturday, February 15. Fillies and mares four years old and upward will take to Santa Anita's main track and race 1 1/16 miles for a purse of $200,000.

Seven older ladies have been confirmed for the Santa Maria - race 8 on Santa Anita's Saturday schedule. Post time is 4:00 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the past performances of all seven entries for this Grade 2 stakes.

2014 Santa Maria Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Fiftyshadesofhay - Bob Baffert trained filly has 14 career starts. She had a very nice second behind Beholder in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes March 2 and she won the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel by 5 3/4 lengths last January 26 on this track in her graded stakes debut with an impressive Beyer speed figure of 90. She was third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks April 6 also behind Beholder and had a nice two race win streak last year - the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico May 17 and in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks June 29 and has looked good in four starts since as well. Last time out was a somewhat disappointing fourth in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes here January 19 after a second as even-money favorite in the Grade 2 Bayakoa at Hollywood Park December 7, a third in the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks and a second behind Princess of Sylmar in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes in August. She has four wins, four seconds and three third place finishes in her career and will be looking to bounce back for the first time she hasn't placed in her last eight starts. Martin Garcia will be in the saddle from the 2 hole Saturday.

Ondine - has hit the board in nine all eight career starts (3 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds) for trainer Bob Baffert including last time out - a third in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes here January 19 after a win in the Beverley J. Lewis Stakes at Barretts Race Meet at Fairplex in September - her first stakes score. She has just one graded stakes start prior to last time out - a third in the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks in June but her win two back served notice that she is ready for another step up. Mike Smith gets the call from post 3.

Santa Maria Stakes 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Iotapa - will make her eighth career start for trainer John Sadler. She won an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita last February 15 after an eight month layoff and a Maiden Claiming score way back last June. She made her stakes debut April 6 and finished a very respectable second behind Beholder by 2 3/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and won the minor Railbird Stakes as 7-5 favorite over Fiftyshadesofhay May 19. Last time out was a good second in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes January 15 after an OK third in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes here way back on July 21 and another good effort - a second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks at Hollywood Park June 22. Three wins, three seconds and a third place finish in seven career starts have Iotapa on the radar for Saturday. She looks for her first graded stakes score in the Santa Maria and will have Joe Talamo aboard from the rail.

Santa Maria Stakes betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Let Faith Arise - Jerry Hollendorfer trained filly has four wins, a second and a third place finish in eight career starts but is coming off a very good second in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes here January 19 after a career worst performance - an eighth in her graded stakes debut - the Senator Ken Maddy here November 2. Before that was three wins in four starts - the best being a win in the California Wine Stakes in her stakes debut. She has been successful in sprint races but stretches out for the La Canada. Corey Nakatani gets the call from post 5.

Stanwyck - John Sherreffs trained filly made her stakes debut and won the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Belmont Park October 26 and followed that with an OK second in the minor Paseana Stakes behind Golden Production last time out. Before that were two wins, a second and three third place finishes in nine career starts. She enters in terrific form looking for her second straight graded stakes score.

Golden Production - Peter Miller trained mare enters on a four race win streak - the minor Paseana Stakes here January 12 being her best. She makes her graded stakes debut with five wins, four seconds and a third place finish in 11 career starts. Golden Production looks more than ready for her step up and could be the surprise of the Santa Maria.

Yahilwa - had 13 starts in Britain before her North American debut last time out - a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track January 26. She had one win, a second and four third place finishes at home before shipping and looked just average in her once race on American soil.