Santa Anita: Clearly Unhinged leads wide-open La Brea

In perhaps the most wide-open stakes race of the day, trainer Michael McCarthy’s Clearly Unhinged rates top billing among 10 sophomore fillies going seven furlongs in the Grade 1, $300,000 La Brea on Santa Anita’s winter-meet opening day this Tuesday.

Most recently sixth at 23-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, Clearly Unhinged, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief, was second two starts back in the Chillingworth (G3) Sept. 29 and in the best race of her career three starts back, she was second, beaten a head going seven panels in the Test (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 5.

Owned and bred by Rock Brothers Racing, Clearly Unhinged, who seeks her first stakes win, will be ridden back by Umberto Rispoli. With two wins and as many second from six starts, she has earnings of $242,000.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox appears well represented by lightly raced Howl, a daughter of Practical Joke who ships in from her Kentucky base unbeaten in two starts. Her most recent triumph was a one-length score going seven furlongs in an ungraded stakes at Laurel Park Nov. 25.

A runaway 7 3/4 length debut maiden winner with Flavien Prat up going six furlongs Oct. 28 at Keeneland, Howl will be reunited with the talented Frenchman on Tuesday and looms a major contender for owners LNJ Foxwoods.