All Star Field in Santa Monica-G1

Fourteen fillies, all of them graded stakes winners, are set to clash in the Santa Marina-G1. Boasting a rich purse of $750,000, California has gotten its money’s worth with this stellar group.

The morning-line favorite, at 7/2, is thethumb15′s lovely bay, Widow’s Colony. The daughter of Speightstown enters this race after a dazzling win in the Exit Stage Left-G3. Contested at the same distance as this race, the five year old posted a 115 SF in the victory. Widow’s Colony should be tactically placed in the early going, which should give her a jump over a good portion of the competition.

Second choice in the betting is Roberto’s Queen. The silvery mare finished fourth behind Widow’s Colony last out in the Exit Stage Left. The soonerslew mare has been a bit of a hard luck horse of late, knocking on the door while finishing third in several stakes, and second in the Superfilly Handicap-G1 at 1 1/16 miles. The Macho Uno miss hasn’t won since last April, when she captured the Dirtydirtydishragyou Stakes-G3, also at this distance. She does better when kept closer to midpack, so the jockey has his marching orders.

Toss out Stormability ‘s last race, when she clearly didn’t care for the slop, and you have a solid racemare, who won the Three Smokestacks S-G1 at 9 furlongs, and followed that up with a fast-closing fourth in the Breeders’ Bowl Distaff-G1. If there’s any criticism of the goldcents99 trainee, it’s that she probably does better at 9 furlongs or longer, with her late-running style. That said, she was second in the Steadhemp/Mike Phipps-G1 at this distance back in the spring, but she’ll need to be flying late to get there in time.

Two Weddings is a bit of a mystery coming into this race, having tossed in an absolute clunker in her allowance prep for this race. Four starts back, she won the Superfilly H-G1, and looked sensational doing it, and then was a respectable fifth in the Breeders’ Bowl Distaff-G1. Another deep closer, if she can return to form, the Tanino Gimlet mare will be a serious threat. Handshob11 must be hoping for the best, and may be rewarded.

All of the other fillies are at odds of 10/1 or more, which is more a sign of the depth of the field, and not a sign of lack of talent.

Kash Storm, like Stormability, struggled in the slop last out. The five year old daughter of Bernardini had a smart win in the Nutcracker BC-G3 in her prior start. The diminutive bay is a deep closer, but has done some of her best running at this distance including a victory in the Fort Lostinthewoods Misery S-G2. Kashbred3′s charge should run well, but like others in the race, may be at a disadvantage with her running style.

Tiz Da Point makes a return to the races after an extended break. The desertdog trainee won the Cotton Handicap-G2 at this distance back in September, and then went to the sidelines after a poor performance in her next start. The Bluegrass Cat filly is relatively lightly raced, and if she runs well fresh, could be dangerous in a field largely devoid of speed. She’s the value play of the race.

The filly most likely to challenge her on the front end is another four year old filly making her return to the races after a lengthy break. Morbillous, trained by champions7 was last seen wining the Gowader Stakes-G2 at a flat mile in October. She has never run this far, and tends to play catch me if you can. That said, the Malibu Moon filly is bred to go farther, and if she catches an easy lead, could be long gone.

Yet another competitor returning from break is The Jaguar, who won the Bra Snap-G1 over this same track and at this same distance back in October. Last year was her best year yet for kombi, and the Acclamation mare looks poised for another good effort. Like others, her closing running style may work against her.

Ladi Dadi was second behind The Jaguar in the Bra Snap-G1, then followed up that effort with a victory in the one mile Air Line Handicap-G3. The jetman trainee has really blossomed since stretching out to a route, which should come as no surprise, given her pedigree (a Bernardini half-sister to G1 route winner Shine Time). Will be another one flying down the stretch.

The “now” horse is probably Sia. The daughter of Malibu Moon has won two straight, including last month’s Encino Man-G2 over the same track and distance. The chloedawg6 trainee seems to love winter racing, and the leggy bay seeks the hat trick in this race. Yet another deep closer in a field full of them.

Swapsco Kitty has already done enough in her storied career to earn a place in the Hall of Fame, but has struggled of late for vegasbuzz. The Scat Daddy filly last visited the winner’s in June, when she captured the Chestnut S-G1. The fans are pulling for the champ to turn things around, but this is no easy spot.

Flashfreeze disappointed in the Jump Town H-G2 last out, but that race was back in November, so hopefully she has recovered from that effort and mabee99 has the Teofilo mare primed for another big effort. The big bay won the Rose Garden H-G3 three starts back, and was competitive in graded stakes races all year long. Should be closer to the early leaders, which may be a tactical advantage in a full field.

Three Olive Barb is another veteran who has struggled of late, finishing far back in her last three starts. The five year old Ghostzapper mare showed much better form over the summer, finishing second in Go for the Gold S-G1. A return to the form would put the barbie trainee in the thick of things, and she should be near the lead in the early going.

Liam’s Rock was third behind Three Olive Barb in the Go for the Gold S-G1, then struggled in two starts, one on grass, before showing good interest and a late kick in her allowance prep for this race. The Fastnet Rock filly is a deep, deep closer, which can make her a victim of pace, but when she is good, she is very good, as the Liam5 homebred showed when a sharp second in the Orange Blossom-G1 last year.

In such a deep and talented field, any one of the fourteen could win this race, and it would not be a surprise. Given the large number of closers, I give a slight tactical edge to the frontrunners/stalkers, but with a clean trip, it could just as easily go to one of the closers. Good luck to all!