Three
European imports, Dijarvo, Indigo River and She Spirit di Su, are among the
leading contenders Sunday in Santa Anita’s featured $70,000 Sweet Life Stakes
for 3-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs over the track’s hillside turf
course.
British-bred Dijarvo, who drew the outside post in
a field of eight, will make her first start for trainer Paddy Gallagher after
winning twice and placing twice in four starts while sprinting in Europe. Her latest effort, a three-quarter length win
going five furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte in France, earned a high Racing Post
Rating of 97. Brice Blanc will be aboard in her U.S. debut for Harlequin Ranches.
Indigo River, an Irish-bred who captured
one-of-three starts in her native country, won her U.S. debut for trainer Jeff
Mullins over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course on Jan. 13. Joel Rosario
has the return riding engagement for owner Michael House.
She Spirit di Su, another Irish-bred who had raced
twice in England,
broke her maiden in her stateside debut for trainer Simon Callaghan. Rafael
Bejarano again rides the filly who scored by 1 ½ lengths while covering one
mile on turf in 1:35 on Jan. 13 for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Anthony
Ramsden.
Painted Woman, the field’s high weight at 120
pounds after finishing third in the Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs
over Santa Anita’s main track, will make her turf debut in the Sweet
Life. The Forest Wildcat filly, trained by Steve Asmussen for J. Kirk and Judy
Robison, has won 2 of 5 starts while earning $101,301. Mike Smith, who rode in
the Santa Ynez, will be back aboard.
The complete field for the Sweet Life Stakes, with
jockeys and weights in post position order: Dypsy, Joseph Talamo, 119; Rowdy
Gal, Victor Espinoza, 119; She Spirit di Su, Rafael Bejarano, 117; Vionnet,
David Flores, 118; Indigo River, Joel Rosario, 119; Woebegon, Martin Garcia,
117; Painted Wagon, Mike Smith, 120, and Dijarvo, Brice Blanc, 119.
The Sweet Life will be run as the eighth race on a
program of nine races.