Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes comes our way from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California this Saturday, January 4. Three year old fillies will take to Santa Anita's main track and dash six and one half furlongs chasing the winner's share of the $200,000 purse.
A minute field of just four females will line up in the Santa Ynez - race 2 on Santa Anita's Saturday card. Post time is 1:00 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of the four entries for this Grade 2 stakes.
Taste Like Candy - Jerry Hollendorfer trained filly has two career starts - the first was a good one - a 5 1/2 furlong MSW score by 6 1/2 lengths with a 85 Beyer Speed Figure at Santa Anita October 20. Last time out was another good performance - a second to Streaming in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park December 7. She gets back to sprinting Saturday and will be listed as the favorite going in. Rafael Bejarano gets the call from the rail
Crushed Velvet - Bob Baffert pupil makes just her second career start Saturday after a win in her debut December 8 - a MSW at Hollywood Park by an impressive 5 1/4 lengths. Despite the lack of experience, Crushed Velvet is Taste Like Candy's biggest threat in this 6 1/2 furlong test. Martin Garcia has the mount from post 4.
Awesome Baby - Bob Baffert trained filly won her debut - a MSW at Del Mar in August and followed that with a seventh four weeks later in her graded stakes debut - the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante August 31. She last races September 28 and finished fifth in her only other career start - the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes on this track. She hasn't looked great lately but hopes are hall-of-fame jockey Mike Smith can change her fortunes.
Santa Ynez Stakes betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Uzziel - William Morey trained filly is coming off an upset MSW score at 9-1 odds at Golden Gate November 23 - her second career start after a third in a similar race on that same track back in August. A repeat upset win is unlikely this weekend.