2020 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Ce Ce Seeks Fourth Win In A Row In The Grade II, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes

Currently poised as a potential superstar on the rise, Bo Hirsch's homebred Ce Ce heads a field of five fillies and mares three and up going a mile and one sixteenth in the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Sunday, May 31.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Ce Ce, a 4-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality out of Hirsch's Grade I stakes winning Miss Houdini, Ce Ce has won all three of her 2020 starts, the most recent being a head victory in the Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park April 18.

A well beaten second as the 3-5 favorite in her lone confrontation with Ce Ce here in the Grade I Beholder Mile on March 14, the John Shirreffs-trained Hard Not to Love will try to turn the tables as she seeks her sixth win from eight overall starts.

Bob Baffert's Fighting Mad makes her second start off a layoff Sunday and should appreciate stretching out off a solid effort in the Grade III Desert Stormer Stakes at six furlongs May 17.

CE CE

Immensely talented, she was sidelined following a fourth place finish in the Grade I Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8, 2019, and did not resurface until romping to a 4 ¼ length allowance score going 6 ½ furlongs at odds of 1-2 here on Feb. 17.

Off at 4-1 in the Grade I Beholder Mile, she stalked Hard Not to Love early and took charge a quarter mile from home in a totally dominant 3 ¼ length victory.

Pressed late by highly regarded Ollie's Candy, she prevailed by a head at odds of 7-2 in the Grade I Apple Blossom April 18, a win that further validated McCarthy's long-held belief that Ce Ce may indeed be something quite special.

With an overall mark of 6-4-1-0, she has three wins from four tries at Santa Anita and has been ridden in all of her races by Victor Espinoza.

Owner: Bo Hirsch | Trainer: Michael McCarthy

HARD NOT TO LOVE

Although no match for Ce Ce in the Beholder Mile, there's no doubting Hard Not to Love is a filly of considerable quality. With her success a true testament to the horsemanship of both Shirreffs and regular rider Mike Smith, this 4-year-old filly has had to overcome extreme anxiety, which is believed caused by the fact she lost the sight in her left eye due a paddock mishap as a youngster.

With consecutive win in the Grade I La Brea and Grade II Santa Monica Stakes to here credit, Hard Not to Love, in her first try around two turns, was seeking her fourth consecutive win in the Beholder Mile on March 14.

Quite often a handful in the mornings and on game day, Hard Not to Love could be a little more settled as she goes to the Santa Maria gate on Sunday, as there will be no public admitted.

Owner: Mercedes Stables, LLC & West Point Thoroughbreds | Trainer: John Shirreffs

FIGHTHING MAD

A 4-year-old daughter of New Years's Day, she was bred in Kentucky by her owners and is out of the Forestry mare Smokey's Love. In her first try around two turns, Fighting Mad led throughout and registered an eight length score as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade III, one mile Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 17.

Sidelined following that, she was head and head to the top of the lane in the Grade III Desert Stormer on May 17, a race in which she tired to finish third, beaten 3 ¼ lengths by multiple graded winner Bellafina and was subsequently disqualified to fourth for interference.

With three wins from six starts, she'll be ridden for the first time by Abel Cedillo.

Owner: Gary and Mary West | Trainer: Bob Baffert

HARD NOT TO LOVE MATURES FOR SANTA MARIA

Beaten as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade I Beholder Mile on March 14, Hard Not to Love is out to make amends in Sunday's Grade II, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares, three and older, at 1 1/16 miles.

The four-year-old Hard Spun filly was second to burgeoning Ce Ce in the Beholder after setting the pace until approaching the stretch run, losing the lead past the quarter pole.

The one-eyed bay showed her readiness for the Santa Maria with a bullet five-furlong workout last Sunday in 58.80.

"She came out of the work really well," trainer John Shirreff's said. "We had a little (racing) delay here, but other than that, she's been running on a pretty consistent basis.

"I think that has helped her mature. Last time she drew the one hole so I hope we get a better post position Sunday."

She didn't. She drew the rail again.

Hard Not to Love has been favored in four of her seven races, the last two at odds-on. She has won five, with one second and one third for earnings of $488,480.

The Santa Maria gained in prestige and anticipation when trainer Michael McCarthy and owner/breeder Bo Hirsch entered streaking Grade I winner Ce Ce, setting up a rematch between her and Hard Not to Love.

Ce Ce also was being considered for the Grade I, $600,000 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park on June 13, but when all the i's and t's were dotted and crossed, they opted to remain at home.

Ce Ce, a four-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality, out of Hirsch's Grade I winning Miss Houdini, captured the Beholder Mile before traveling to Arkansas where she edged Ollie's Candy by a head in the Grade I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park April 18.

Overall, Ce Ce has four wins from six starts with earnings of $726,600 and is three for four at Santa Anita. Victor Espinoza, who has ridden her in all six races, will be aboard again in the Santa Maria.