Photo: MEC
Zayat Stable’s Kays and Jays and Flintridge Stable’s
Pinkarella have been flown in from California for Saturday’s renewal of the
$125,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) at 6 ½ furlongs and will face the
one-two-three finishers from the six-furlong Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3) here on
Jan. 9.
Jockey Jose Lezcano picks up the mount on Kays and Jays for
trainer Mike Mitchell after she finished a close-up fifth last out in the La
Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, beaten only 2 ½ lengths for it all
by Evita Argentina going seven furlongs after dueling for the lead from the start.
The daughter of Macho Uno ran well to finish second in the Azalea Stakes (G3)
at Calder last summer in a previous foray to Florida.
Elvis Trujillo will ride Pinkarella for trainer Doug
O’Neill as she bids to bounce back from an eighth-place finish in the La Brea.
The daughter of Malibu Moon was making only her fifth career start in that race
and first since winning a six-furlong allowance at Hollywood Park
by five lengths on Nov. 27.
Tom Walters’ Pretty Prolific won the Sugar Swirl by a head
over Joseph Sutton’s Warbling with Alex Rankin’s Tar Heel Mom another nose back
in third after holding a 1 ½ length lead in mid-stretch as the lukewarm
favorite, and all three come back in the Hurricane Bertie.
Jockey Ramon Dominguez will ride Pretty Prolific for trainer
Jimmy Baker after her big stretch charge to score in the Sugar Swirl. The
daughter of Lion Heart is a confirmed closer and ran a very big race last
summer to finish second behind Flashing in the Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
Warbling was making only the third start of a promising
career in the Sugar Swirl for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The 4-year-old roan/gray
daughter of Unbridled’s Song won her debut at Keeneland by 7 ½ lengths in late
October and an allowance race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. Jockey Rajiv
Maragh replaces regular rider Julien Leparoux, who will be riding at Santa
Anita Saturday afternoon.
Alan Garcia rides Tar Heel Mom for trainer Stanley Hough.
The 5-year-old daughter of Flatter had won her two previous starts before the
Sugar Swirl by big margins, the Seton Hall University at Meadowlands by 4 ½
lengths on Oct. 24 and the In Her Glory Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 11 by four
lengths.
Completing the field of 10 drawn for the Hurricane Bertie
are World Thoroughbred Racing’s Don’ttalktome, Jeremy Rose; Derby Lane Farm and
partners’ Dr. Zic, Eibar Coa; George Schwartz’ Way With Words, Eddie Castro;
Farnsworth Stable’s Pious Ashley, Joe Bravo; and Juddmonte Farm’s Turn Away,
Javier Castellano.
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