G1 – SANTA MARINA HANDICAP

THE SANTA MARINA HANDICAP

Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 2:00 EST

The Grade 1 – $750,000 Santa Marina Handicap has attracted a very talented and FAST field of 14 for the race restricted to Fillies and Mares that are 4 year old and older.  They have come to race on the California DIRT over a distance of a Mile & 1 Sixteenth (8.5 Furlongs).  Interestingly 13 of the entries are Kentucky Bred with the lone holdout being CABARETERA from Australia.  The Field consists of 3 Fillies and 11 Mares.  Other notes: TAPIT has sired 3 of the runners (INTERNET SENSATION, STACY BABY & SETTING STANDARDS) while both WAR FRONT (WAR EFFORT & WIDOW’S WAR) and SMART STRIKE (RULER OF GALAXIES & ASTUTE TORNADO) have sired 2 starters each.  Speaking of SPEED; 8 of these ladies have posted speed numbers of 115 or better.  The Highest being 118 by both INTERNET SENSATION & ASTUTE TORNADO.  The only entry to not post a speed at 110 or above is WHITE GHOST with a high of 108, while NIGHT STEP (115 high) has never posted a speed above 109 on a fast track.  Now at look at the FIELD:

 

1- RULER OF GALAXIES  (12-1)  thethumb15   5yo Bay Mare    K. Banner

Has posted a top speed of 112 twice, including a victory in in her last start- The Baby Moo Cow Dirt Mare Mile Stakes.  In 2017 she posted 5 Wins and hit the board in 8 of 11 starts.  Ran third in her only other G1 start- The Superfilly Handicap in September 2017 in New York.

 

2- WAR EFFORT  (19-1)  durkastan15   4yo Bay Filly   N. Bonus

Posted her career best speed of 114 in winning the Furry Burger Dirt Filly Mile in November, but had a disappointing fourth on New Year’s Day in a 48k Allowance race.  She had 2 wins in 8 starts during 2017.  Has 1 previous G1 race- The VT is 4 Lovers; where she faded to finish tenth.  Bonus gets second ride on her.

 

3- BRISEIS   (18-1)   waremblem6   4yo Bay Filly    OA Haack

Already a 2018 winner in a 60k Allowance in Iowa.  Has twice posted speed of 111.  She had 3 wins in 8 starts in 2017 season.  Has failed to win any of her 4 previous G1 races, but did come second in Bluegrass Oaks last May.  Haack gets third mount with both other rides being wins.

4- REFORM THE LAWS  (11-1)   chloedawg   5yo Bay Mare   M. Clooch

Just over 2 weeks ago posted career high speed of 116 in a win in the Nimble Flyer Dirt Mare Memorial.  In 6 2017 starts had 3 wins but it was boom or bust with no other top 3 finishes. Ran ninth in her only other Graded Race the G3- Meadow Oaks back in June 2016.  Comes in having won 2 straight races.

 

5- WIDOW’S WAR   (6-1)   lenny25   5yo Bay Mare   L. Radzinski

Last race was a win in the Jerrys Turks Dirt Mare Memorial in December.  In 2017 she hit the board in 8 of 12 starts including 6 trips to the winners circle.  Has never won at G1 level but finished second in The Bra Snap in October her in California.  Looking to surpass the 1 Mil career earnings mark as Radzinski gets his 4^th ride.

 

6- INTERNET SENSATION (6-1)  gowans2011   5yo Light Grey Mare  F. Gossett

Has posted speed of 110 or more 7 times with a high of 118.  Got caught from behind in her last start the G1- Breeders Bowl Distaff.  In 2017 both her wins were graded the G1- Very Vane & G2- My Lady both on the California Dirt.  Looking to cross over the 2 Mil earnings mark as Gossett gets fifth time up and 3^rd in a row.

 

7- SETTING STANDARDS (7-1) mtkg1offspring  5yo Light Grey Mare  M. Kelly

Has a top speed of 114 in 4 different races.  Was second in last race the Blazing Saddles Breeders Showdown Distaff in December.  Had 2 wins and 2 seconds in 2017.  Was unlucky to get an off track in both previous G1 races.  Ran second in G2- Molly Pitcher in August.  M. Kelly gets second straight mount.

 

8- ASTUTE TORNADO  (8-1)  scorehobby5   5yo Bay Mare  W. Kewmwa

Comes in with 3 straight wins and has a high posted speed of 118.  Won her last race the G3- Exit Stage Left in December.  Had 4 wins and 3 seconds in 8 starts during 2017.  Will be first start above the G3 level.  Kewmwa gets third ride with the other 2 resulting in wins including the Race Series for asr11 in November.

 

9- NIGHT STEP   (10-1)  spiderman1   6yo Light Grey Mare   D. Givins

Has never failed to hit the board on an Off Track in 6 lifetime attempts, including a third in G1- Three Smokestacks Stakes (115 speed).  5 of her 6 top speed numbers are on Off Tracks.  Failed to win in her 6 starts last year.  Has never hit the board in any graded race without an Off Track.  She is the only 6 yo in the field.

 

10- CABARETERA   (12-1)   argentino2    5yo Bay Mare    A. Jolly

Has a career high speed of 113.  Three weeks ago ran second in a 10K Allowance.  Made only 5 starts in 2017 but had 2 wins including the G2- Molly Pitcher in August.  Did not like the sloppy track in only G1 start at the Three Smokestacks Stakes.  Competed in the 2016 EQUINICS running tenth in the David Bowie.

 

11- STACY BABY   (9-1)    kentuckii    5yo Roan Mare     T. Ace

Has posted speeds of 115 or higher 3 times and has never finished lower than fourth in any race.  This will be her first G1 start.  On New Year’s Day ran fourth in Gods Fury Dirt Mare Mile.  In 2017 hit board in all 6 starts with 4 wins including the G2- Cool Hand Luke in November.

 

12- DOING IT RIGHT  (11-1)   mtkindy    5yo Light Grey Mare   MJ Kelly

Won on New Year’s Day in a 48k Allowance in Kentucky.  Has a top speed number of 116 and hit victory circle twice in 8 starts during 2017.  She ran third in the G1- Bra Snap last October here on the California Dirt.  Competed in the 2016 EQUINICS by finishing eighth in the David Bowie.

 

13- GET HARD GAL   (8-1)   durkastan9   5yo Bay Mare   M. Staples

Ran third on New Year’s Day in the Gods Fury Dirt Mare Mile.  Has a career best speed number of 117.  In 2017, hit the board in 6 of her 8 starts with 3 victories, including 2 stakes wins to close out the season.  This will be her first ever start in a graded race of any level.

 

14- WHITE GHOST  (27-1)   redhill21    4yo Brown Filly    E. Seifert

Ran second on New Year’s Day in the Gods Fury Dirt Mare Mile posted her career best speed of 108.  She hit the board in all 6 of her 2017 starts which had 3 race win streak capped at the Fleet DeputyCat Dirt Filly Route.  Came home second in the G2- First State Oaks in July.  This is her first G1 start.

 

 

MY TOP 3 CHOICES :   6- Internet Sensation,  8- Astute Tornado, 5- Widow’s War.

 

MY NEXT 3 CHOICES :  7- Setting Standards, 1- Ruler of Galaxies, 10- Cabaretera.

 

MY LONSHOTS ARE :  3- Briseis, 13- Get Hard Gal.

 

IF IT RAINS :  Bet my whole wallet on 9- Night Step.

 

Good Luck to all, I cannot wait to see how this race unfolds with this great field.

 

Submitted by: Jb3commish