Photo: MEC
Buongiorna A. Tutti Stable’s 4-year-old filly Sweet Repent
has won her last four starts at Calder for trainer Dave Braddy and will be
well-supported to extend that streak in a field of nine fillies and mares
entered in the $300,00 Sunshine Millions Distaff, although facing new
challenges with shippers from California and Louisiana.
Regular rider Manoel Cruz will be back aboard Sweet Repent
in the 1 1/8 miles test after a hard-fought nose victory last out in the Stage
Door Betty Handicap (G3) at Calder on Dec. 26. The stretch-running daughter of
Repent had previously swept to victories in an allowance in August, Judy’s Red
Shoes Stakes in September and Elmer Heubeck Distaff on Nov. 14 before the Stage
Door Betty.
Marilyn Seltzer’s 5-year-old Amazing led every step but the
last in the Stage Door Betty and Farnsworth Stable’s 6-year-old mare Jessica Is
Back set the pace in the Elmer Heubeck before giving way and settling for
runner-up honors behind Sweet Repent in the Elmer Heubeck.
Both mares do their best running on the lead and will try
Sweet Repent again Saturday with Julien Leparoux riding Jessica Is Back for
trainer Marty Wolfson and Elvis Trujillo aboard Amazing for trainer Brian
Lynch. Amazing makes her first start since the Stage Door Betty while Jessica
Is Back came back for an impressive front-running allowance score on Dec. 6.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and partners’ 5-year-old
Florida-bred Christmas Ship invades from California
and will be ridden by John R. Velazquez. Kent Desormeaux takes the call on
Robert A. Adams’ 6-year-old Unforgotten, who is shipping in from the Fair
Grounds in Louisiana
for trainer Dallas Stewart to contest the Distaff.
Completing the field for the Distaff are Lucille Geranis’
Cat Can Do, Fernando Abreu’s Granted Tiger, Ersoff Racing Stable’s Even
Road and Haras Santa
Maria de Araras’ Scolara.
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