Miss Southern Miss given tough assignment in Las Virgenes

Miss Southern Miss tackles a champion and a potential champion Sunday in the Grade II Las Virgenes Stakes for three-year-old fillies at one mile, but her trainer, Keith Desormeaux, has been known to light up the tote board with a longshot winner now and then.

He sends out Miss Southern Miss against 2016 two-year-old filly Eclipse Award winner Champagne Room and Unique Bella, handy winner of her last two starts by a combined 17 ¾ lengths, including a 7 ½-length romp in the Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes on Jan. 8.

Miss Southern Miss, owned by Peter Cantrell, has not raced since last Oct. 10, when she won the restricted Surfer Girl Stakes at one mile on turf at Santa Anita. She was second to Champagne Room in the Grade II Sorrento at 6 ½ furlongs on dirt last August at Del Mar.

Miss Southern Miss does, however, have two bullet works for the Las Virgenes.

“We didn’t have many options on dirt,” Desormeaux explained, “and she’s shown some class on the dirt before. There were other subtleties into the decision. She’s a very aggressive horse and I prefer to start her out routing instead of sprinting in the Sweet Life (Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf Feb. 12), just to keep her settled.

“It’s a tough race but we’re optimistic.”

Anyone who doubts Keith’s prowess with an eye for an underdog need only look at Sorry Erik’s victory in Thursday’s seventh race.

Claimed after a five-length victory for $20,000 on Jan. 6, Sorry Erik came back to win for $75,000 at 6-1, leaving in his wake by two lengths 2-5 favorite Conquest Farenheit, a $735,000 Keeneland Sales purchase.