Croughavouke leads Santa Anita's Blue Norther Stakes field of nine

Highly regarded Irish-bred Croughavouke heads a competitive field of nine sophomore fillies in Sunday’s $75,000 Blue Norther Stakes to be contested at one mile over the Santa Anita PArk turf.  Most recently fourth in the Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3) on Nov. 30 at Del Mar, Croughavouke will be making her fifth consecutive start at one mile on turf for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Second, beaten 2 ¾ lengths in the Durante, owner Gary Barber’s Laura’s Light, who was off at odds of 24-1, will be making her second start for trainer Peter Miller and can be expected to once again go to the early lead under Abel Cedillo.

A deep closer, trainer Leonard Powell’s French-bred Guitty, who was unable to rally from off the pace when finishing eighth in the Durante, will be shooting for her third mile turf win in her last four starts.

Named for the winner of the 1964 Santa Susana Stakes (now run as the Santa Anita Oaks), Kentucky Oaks and Ashland Stakes, Blue Norther, who was conditioned by Wally Dunn, won all five of her 1964 starts.

CROUGHAVOUKE

Owner: Red Baron’s Barn & Rancho Temescal                           

Trainer: Jeff Mullins

A sharp second in her U.S. debut, the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Sept. 2, Croughavouke has been winless in four starts for Mullins but takes a drop in class in the Blue Norther. Second, beaten three quarters of a length in the one-mile turf Surfer Girl Stakes here on Oct. 6, she gave a good account of herself when an even sixth, beaten 4 ½ lengths in the one mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf here on Nov. 1.  She’ll be ridden for the first time by Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli, who is being represented by top agent Ron Anderson.

LAURA’S LIGHT

Owner: Gary Barber                             

Trainer: Peter Miller

A handy 2 ½-length first-out maiden special weight winner Nov. 2 going six furlongs on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields, this Kentucky-bred daughter of Constitution was subsequently purchased privately and debuted for Barber and Miller when second in the Durante. Based at San Luis Rey Downs, Laura’s Light earned a Blue Norther-best 85 Beyer Speed Figure last out, and a repeat of that performance makes her a very solid contender.

GUITTY

Owner: Benowitz Family Trust, Madaket Stables, LLC, M. Mathiesen & M. Powell  

Trainer: Leonard Powell

Second in a 12-horse maiden race going 6 ½ furlongs on turf in her native France back on June 13, Guitty rallied from off the pace as the 9-5 favorite to take her U.S. debut for Powell, a one-mile maiden special weight flight on Sept. 2 at Del Mar. Subsequently first as the 2-1 favorite in a one-mile turf allowance on Nov. 9 at Del Mar, she was then a non-factor while finishing eighth in the Durante. She’ll hope for a fast pace in the Blue Norther as she gets the first time services of the agent Anderson’s top gun, Joel Rosario. 

THE $75,000 BLUE NORTHER STAKES IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 10; approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

1. Lighthouse—Drayden Van Dyke—120

2. Guitty—Joel Rosario—120

3. Parkour—Flavien Prat—120

4. Madame Bourbon—Joe Talamo—120

5. Overjoyed—Mike Smith—120

6. Laura’s Light—Abel Cedillo—120

7. Blue Sky Baby—Tyler Baze—120

8. Croughavouke—Umberto Rispoli—120

9. Little Bird—Geovanni Franco—120