My Fiona Seeks Stakes Trifecta in Soviet Problem
My Fiona will look for her third stakes win of the year when she takes on five opponents in the $200,000 Soviet Problem Stakes Sunday at Los Alamitos.
Restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred or sired in California, the Soviet Problem was run the previous two years at Hollywood Park, which ended live racing last Dec. 22. The race is now a mile after being contested at seven furlongs in 2012 and 2013.
Named in honor of the 10-time stakes winner owned and bred by John Harris and Donald Valpredo, the Soviet Problem is the eighth of nine races. Post time Sunday is 12:30 p.m.
Trained by Walther Solis for a partnership that includes Tom Beckerle, Amanda Navarro and breeder Terry Lovingier, My Fiona has won three of five starts and earned $244,100.
Never worse than third, the daughter of Ghostzapper and the Two Punch mare A Vision in Gray is proven over synthetic and dirt. The dark bay won the CTBA on Del Mar’s Polytrack July 18 and the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31 on the main track at Santa Anita.
Like the majority of the Soviet Problem field, My Fiona will be making her first start at eight furlongs.
Owned by Brett Tahajian and breeders George Todaro and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Heat the Rocks dominated maidens by 7 ¾ lengths Nov. 7 at Del Mar. The win was the first in three races for the Unusual Heat filly. Out of the Tribal Rule mare Rockella, she has banked $48,160.
Easter Fever stretches out for trainer Peter Miller and owners Gary and Cecil Barber after finishing second behind Grand Yodeler in an optional claimer Nov. 22 at Del Mar.
Claimed for $50,000 by her current connections out of an easy win against maidens in her Aug. 7 debut, the Stormin Fever filly out of the Jade Hunter mare is 1-for-5 with earnings of $59,000.
Niassa returns to Southern California in search of a third consecutive victory after winning an optional claimer Nov. 15 on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields.
The win as the 6-5 favorite came one month after she had defeated state bred maidens at Santa Anita while trained by Kathy Walsh.
Now in the barn of Bill Morey, the Papa Clem filly out of the Tale of the Cat mare Glamour Cat has earned $63,720 in three starts for owner-breeders Jack and Barbara Owens.
Trained by Jeff Bonde for owners Philip Lebherz, Al Mariani and breeders George and Mary Clare Schmitt, Princess Bertrando has one win in eight races and earnings of $117,216. The daughter of Bertrando and the Giant’s Causeway mare Causeway R.N. finished second at 42-1 in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies, three-quarters of a length behind My Fiona.
Tribal Express goes turf to dirt after finishing second behind heavily-favored Midnight Candy in a starter allowance at one mile Nov. 21 at Del Mar.
Owned by breeders Albert and Kathleen Mattivi and trained by Steve Knapp, the daughter of Lucky Pulpit and the Tribal Rule mare Tribal Fire has one win in seven races and a bankroll of $27,690.
From inside out, the field for the Soviet Problem Stakes: Heat the Rocks, Elvis Trujillo rides, 119 pounds; Easter Fever, Drayden Van Dyke, 115 pounds; Niassa, Tyler Baze, 119; My Fiona, Rafael Bejarano, 121; Princess Bertrando, Corey Nakatani, 117 and Tribal Express, Alonso Quinonez, 115.
Source: Los Alamitos Race Course