Santa Barbara Stakes 2019: Entries & Odds at Santa Anita

In a race devoid of any clear-cut standout, trainer Eric Kruljac's Causeforcommotion, Paddy Gallagher's Animosity and Doug O'Neill's Lynne's Legacy loom prominently among a field of six fillies and mare three and up going a mile and one half on turf in Saturday's Grade III, $100,000 Santa Barbara Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

A close second in last year's Santa Barbara, Causeforcommotion went to the sidelines following a win here in the mile and one quarter turf Possibly Perfect Stakes June 3 and didn't resurface until running third, beaten 3 ¾ lengths, in a mile turf classified allowance on April 14.

In her second start of the year, Animosity, who was second in the Grade II Honeymoon Stakes in her third career start on June 9, 2018, was an impressive 1 ¾ length gate to wire winner of a 1 1/8 mile turf allowance on April 7 and could be sitting on a huge effort Saturday.

Lynne's Legacy would appear to be coming off the best race, as she was third, beaten one length, in the Grade III, mile and one quarter turf Santa Ana Stakes on March 30.

Guiliana, a French-bred trained by Leonard Powell, showed ample promise, running a close second behind Animosity in her U.S. debut here on April 7 and would appear to have considerable upside.

CAUSEFORCOMMOTION

A 5-year-old mare by the Dynaformer stallion Americain, Animosty's only other graded stakes experience came in last year's Santa Barbara, a race in which she attended the pace and finished second, beaten a half length. With a recent race under her belt, she's the likely favorite on Sunday as she'll be reunited with Geovanni Franco, who was aboard in last year's Santa Barbara and in his most recent pairing with her, guided her to victory in the ungraded Possible Perfect Stakes two starts back in June of 2018.

Owner: E. Dunham, Eric Kruljac, Jim Reed, J. Sondereker and D. & S. Yip | Trainer: Eric Kruljac

ANIMOSITY

A sharp gate to wire classified allowance winner going 1 1/8 miles on turf April 7, this 4-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom was completely dominant on the front end and appears poised to bring forth another big effort as she stretches out three furlongs in the Santa Barbara, which will be her third start of the year. With three wins from eight starts, she, like the remainder of the field, is looking for her first graded stakes victory.

Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners | Trainer: Paddy Gallagher

LYNNE'S LEGACY

Third, beaten 5 ¾ lengths in the Grade III, mile and one half turf Astra Stakes three starts back on Jan. 20, this 6-year-old California-bred mare by Unusual Heat was most recently third, beaten a length, in the Grade III Santa Ana Stakes at a mile and one quarter on turf March 30. Although her resume is devoid of a graded stakes win, she's been consistent over parts of five racing seasons and if she gets a fast pace to run at, looms a very serious threat on Saturday. With an overall mark of 32-5-3-6, she has career earnings of $330,131.

Owner: Maureen Richardson, Ritchie Robershaw & Terri Tucker | Trainer: Doug O'Neill

GUILIANA

A close second going a mile and one eighth on turf in her U.S. debut April 7, this 5-year-old French-bred mare would appear to have considerable upside as she retains the services of a high-riding Flavien Prat. Despite breaking slowly, she was only beaten 1 ¾ lengths and was highly regarded at 5-2 in a field of five. Unplaced in a one mile turf Group III stakes in Italy four starts back on Sept. 23, 11 out of her 14 European starts came in Germany. In what will be her second start for Powell, the tote board would certainly merit a discerning look.

Owner: Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal | Trainer: Leonard Powell