Fighting Mad will look to take them all the way in La Cañada

Idle since finishing third as the odds on favorite in the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) on Sept. 27, Bob Baffert’s speedy Fighting Mad heads a field of seven older fillies and mares going a mile and one sixteenth in Saturday’s $200,000 La Cañada Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita.

While Fighting Mad will hope to control the early pace, the John Shirreffs-trained Hard Not to Love, a Grade 1 winner who was second in the Zenyatta, figures to stalk the pace with Ricky Gonzalez aboard for the first time and could prove dangerous late.

Peter Miller’s Proud Emma, who will be ridden back by upstart Juan Hernandez, comes off a career-best victory in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Los Alamitos and will hope to be rolling again from off the pace.

Baffert will also be well represented by Baoma Corporation’s Message, who comes off a solid second in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Los Alamitos and will be ridden back by Flavien Prat.

Trainer Michael McCarthy’s Chilean-bred Sanenus returns to Southern California following a second place finish in the Chilukki Stakes (G3) going a one turn mile at Churchill Downs and could well make her presence felt in any early pace scenario with Umberto Rispoli engaged.

Mike Smith, who had ridden Hard Not to Love in her last seven races, will be aboard the Carla Gaines-conditioned Miss Stormy D, who could prove bothersome to Fighting Mad on the front end.

FIGHTING MAD

Owner:  Gary & Mary West

Trainer:  Bob Baffert

Off as the 2-5 favorite in the Grade II Zenyatta at 1 1/16 miles, Fighting Mad regressed off of her impressive gate to wire win in the Grade I Clement Hirsch at Del Mar on Aug. 2, tiring late to finish third, beaten 1 ½ lengths under Luis Saez.  She’ll be reunited with Abel Cedillo, who guided her to gate to wire scores in both the Hirsch and the Grade II Santa Maria on May 31, and this 5-year-old homebred mare by New Year’s Day will hope to bounce back with a big effort.

HARD NOT TO LOVE

Owner:  Mercedes Stables, LLC & West Point Thoroughbreds

Trainer:  John Shirreffs

Sight-impaired as she lost the use of one eye in a paddock mishap as a youngster, this 5-year-old Ontario-Canadian-bred mare by Hard Spun is often a handful in the mornings and on the way to the gate on race days.  Masterfully handled by Shirreffs, she has amassed earnings of $568,980 from an overall mark of 10-5-3-1.  Although well beaten by Fighting Mad in both the Santa Maria and Clement Hirsch, she turned the tables in the Zenyatta, as she rallied late to finish second, beaten three quarters of a length while besting Fighting Mad by the same margin.

PROUD EMMA

Owner:  Gem Inc., and Tom Kagele

Trainer:  Peter Miller

Ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez, Proud Emma rallied to take the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Los Alamitos by a half length in her first graded stakes victory.  A 5-year-old mare by Include, she’s on the improve and should have plenty of pace to run at, if good enough on Saturday.

MESSAGE

Owner:  Baoma Corporation

Trainer:  Bob Baffert

A dead heat winner of the restricted Tranquility Lake at one mile two starts back on Aug. 28, she made the lead turning for home in the Bayakoa Dec. 6 and finished second, beaten a half length by Proud Emma.  As the “Other Baffert,” she’ll be facing much tougher competition on Saturday, but she has recency in her corner and top jock Prat sticks with her.

SANENUS

Owner:  Matriarca

Trainer:  Michael McCarthy

A Group 1 winner in her native Chile at age three, this 5-year-old mare by Scat Daddy made her U.S. debut three starts back on Aug. 16 at Del Mar, running third in a six furlong classified allowance.  Subsequently a close third in a one turn mile allowance at Churchill Downs Sept. 26, she was off at 10-1 in the Chilukki (G3), a race in which pressed the pace, made the lead around the turn and ended up second, beaten 2 ½ lengths.

MISS STORMY D

Owner:  Keith Brackpool

Trainer:  Carla Gaines

A dazzling 6 ¼ lengths one mile allowance winner here on Feb. 29, a race in which she earned a lofty 94 Beyer Speed figure, Miss Stormy D resurfaced at 7-2 in the Dec. 6 Bayokoa and was done early after showing the way after the first quarter mile.  Fourth, beaten nine lengths, Miss Stormy D, who will be ridden by Mike Smith for the first time, will hope to improve with a recent race under her belt.