More Chocolate worked six furlongs on Santa Anita’s fast main track
Sunday morning in a bullet 1:12, her final major drill for Saturday’s
Grade I, $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1
1/8 miles.
A 4-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon trained by John Sadler for
owner Michael Talla of Los Angeles, More Chocolate has not raced since
winning the Grade II La Canada Stakes on Jan. 20, but that’s by design.
“She ran so big in the La Canada, and it’s a long year,” said
Sadler assistant Larry Benavidez. “There’s no reason to be ahead early.”
As for the workout under Martin Garcia, who rides the bay filly
in the Santa Margarita, Benavidez said: “She went beautiful. She
galloped out strong. She was about eight (lengths) behind a workmate and
did it the right way. She’s ready to go.”
Probable for the Santa Margarita: Book Review, Great Hot, Joyful Victory, More Chocolate, My Miss Aurelia and The Only Key.