Private Mission looks for cutback success in La Brea

Two-time graded stakes winner Private Mission cuts back in distance and heads a field of seven sophomore fillies going seven furlongs in Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita. One of six graded stakes, three of them Grade 1s, the La Brea will no doubt command considerable attention on Santa Anita’s winter spring opening day card, which is comprised of 11 races. First post time on Sunday is at 2 p.m. EST.

Although she showed good early speed, Private Mission tired badly to be distanced by 37 1/4 lengths at odds of 10-1 in her most recent start, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at a mile and one eighth on Nov. 6. A two-time winner sprinting, Private Mission, who is trained by Bob Baffert, was on a three-game roll heading into the Breeders’ Cup, having won the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita on Oct. 3 and the Torrey Pines (G3) at Del Mar Aug. 21.

Buy red-hot sire Into Mischief, Private Mission is owned by Baoma Corporation and will be ridden for the fourth consecutive time by Flavien Prat. A first-out winner sprinting at two, Private Mission has four wins from six starts and has earnings of $256,800.       

John Sadler’s Livingmybestlife is a front-running sort who comes off a pair of ungraded stakes wins, her most recent the one mile Seashell Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 3. Owned by Hronis Racing, Livingmybestlife registered an 88 Beyer Speed Figure in taking the six furlong Lucky Spell Stakes at Los Alamitos two starts back on Sept. 24 and earned an 85 Beyer in winning the Seashell.

A Florida-bred by the Yes It’s True stallion The Big Beast, Livingmybestlife was claimed by Sadler out of her first start, a second place finish for maiden $50,000 at Oaklawn Park on April 8. With three sprint wins to her credit, Livingmybestlife has four wins and a two seconds from seven overall starts as she tackles graded company for the first time with regular rider Juan Hernandez up.

In addition to Private Mission, Baffert will also send out Kalypso, a winner of the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) here in her first start of the year four starts back on Jan. 3. Idle since well beaten in the Eight Belles (G2) at Churchill Downs April 30, this daughter of Brody’s Cause will no doubt show good speed off the bench. Owned by David Bernsen, LLC and Gainesway Farm, Kalypso will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez.