Separated by just a head when last they met, Maxim Rate, Lady Prancealot and Hostess head a field of six sophomore fillies going one mile on turf in Saturday's Grade III, $100,000 Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Carded as the third race on an 11-race Kentucky Derby Day program, the Senorita will complement a tremendous undercard coming in via simulcast from Churchill Downs. Admission gates will open early on Saturday at 7:15 a.m. and first live race post time at Santa Anita is set for 12 noon.
Race 3 at Santa Anita on Saturday, May 04 - Post 4:08 PM
Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | All Star Cast (IRE) | 5-1 | Victor Espinoza 120 Lbs |
James Cassidy |
2 | Maxim Rate | 9-5 | Kent Desormeaux 120 Lbs |
Simon Callaghan |
3 | Lady Prancealot (IRE) | 2-1 | Joseph Talamo 120 Lbs |
Richard Baltas |
4 | Miss Flawless (FR) | 8-1 | Tiago Pereira 120 Lbs |
Peter Miller |
5 | Ladymidtown | 20-1 | Rafael Bejarano 120 Lbs |
Doug O'Neill |
6 | Hostess (GB) | 5-2 | Brice Blanc 124 Lbs |
Simon Callaghan |
Second, beaten a nose by her longshot stablemate, Hostess, in the Grade III Providencia Stakes going a mile and one eighth on turf here April 6, Maxim Rate showed tremendous heart in what was her second career start. A first out maiden special weight winner going one mile on turf Feb. 16, this Kentucky-bred filly by Exchange Rate bobbled slightly leaving the gate in the Providencia and ran too good to lose at 9-2 under Flavien Prat.
With Prat away to ride at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Kent Desormeaux has the call in the Senorita.
Owner: Slam Dunk Racing | Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Favored in her last three starts, this Irish-bred filly was the 5-2 choice in the 10-horse Providencia April 6 and just missed, as she wheeled four-wide turning for home and came up a head short in a thrilling finish. Last approaching the quarter pole, she employed similar tactics at one mile on turf two starts back in a first condition allowance, winning going away by one length.
With one win from five starts in England at age two, she has a win, two seconds and a third in six stateside starts for Baltas, five of which have been at a mile on turf.
Ridden by Joe Rosario in her last three starts, she'll be reunited with Joe Talamo, who guided her to a pair of second place finishes in minor stakes on Oct. 8 at Santa Anita and on Sept. 3 at Del Mar.
Owner: Donald Durando, Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone & Jerry McClanahan | Trainer: Richard Baltas
A winner going seven furlongs on synthetic in her third and final start in her native England, Hostess rallied from far back to win a tight photo while between horses at odds of 25-1 in the Grade III Providencia Stakes, which was her U.S. debut.
With Drayden Van Dyke away to ride in Kentucky, veteran reinsman Brice Blanc will try to time it just right and will hope to have a fast pace to exploit on Saturday.
Owner: Mr. J. Warren Stable | Trainer: Simon Callaghan