Rising star Selcourt takes on Noted and Quoted in Angel Flight

A rousing first-out maiden winner who was second to Grade I winning Union Strike in her most recent start, the John Sadler-conditioned Selcourt could be a star on the rise as she tries stakes company for the second time in the $75,000 Angles Flight Stakes at seven furlongs this Sunday at Santa Anita. Also prominent among a field of six 3-year-old fillies are a pair of Bob Baffert runners, Grade I winning Noted and Quoted and recent maiden winner Faypien, along with sharp locally based Queen Laila and speedy Princess Karen.

SELCOURT: A rousing 9 ¼ length first-out maiden winner going six furlongs on Feb. 12, she came back to be second, beaten 1 ½ lengths in the 6 ½ furlong Santa Paula Stakes April 9, by Union Strike, a Grade I winner who was unlucky to lose the Grade II, seven furlong Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs this past Friday.Favored in both of her starts, Selcourt, who is trained by John Sadler, earned an Angels Flight-best last-out Beyer Speed figure of 87. A “now” horse by any reckoning, Selcourt may be the horse to beat on Sunday. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Tiz Wonderful, she was bred by Keith Abrahams and is owned by Abrahams, Medallion Racing and Lazaruk.

NOTED AND QUOTED: A Florida-bred daughter of the good sprinter The Factor, she was a 9 ½ length maiden winner in her second start going six furlongs and was subsequently an even fourth in the Grade I, seven furlong Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 3, and should therefore have no problem returning to the sprint game on Sunday. Owned by Speedway Stable, LLC, Noted and Quoted has two wins from six starts and is the leading money earner in the Angels Flight lineup with $259,580.

FAYPIEN: A well beaten third behind eventual Grade I Santa Anita Oaks winner Paradise Woods going 5 ½ furlongs on March 11, this Florida-bred daughter of Ghostzapper drilled eight rivals in breaking her maiden going seven furlongs by 4 ¼ lengths here on April 23. Trained by Baffert, she, like Selcourt, earned an Angels Flight best last-out Beyer of 87. With Rafael Bejarano sidelined on Sunday, Joe Talamo will take over for the first time in her third career start. Owned by Baoma Corporation, Faypien is proven at the distance and rates a big look on Sunday.

QUEEN LAILA: A prompt 1 ¼ length maiden winner as the 3-2 favorite going six furlongs on April 8, this Simon Callaghan-conditioned daughter of The Factor earned a Beyer Speed figure of 83 and should be plenty tough as she stretches out a furlong. Favored in a field of 10 first time out, Queen Laila should get a good measure of support as she faces winners for the first time.Owned by Neville Callaghan and Ben McElroy, Queen Laila picked up $32,400 for her first-out maiden score.

PRINCESS KAREN: Although attentive to the early pace, she tired badly and was distanced in the Grade I, 1 1/16 miles Santa Anita Oaks on April 8. An impressive 1 ¼ length first condition allowance winner here two starts back on March 10, was also a first-out maiden winner at the Angels Flight distance four starts back on Oct. 16. Trained by Jeff Bonde, this Kentucky-bred filly by Stay Thirsty would thus appear to be better suited sprinting and could prove tough in what will be her fifth career start. Owned by Bonde, Edward J. Brown, Jr. and Karen Norton, Princess Karen has earnings of $77,145.

THE $75,000 ANGELS FLIGHT STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4:00 p.m. PT

1. Princess Karen – Mike Smith - 120

2. Queen Laila – Flavien Prat - 120

3. Noted and Quoted – Martin Garcia - 124

4. Selcourt – Tyler Baze – 120

5. Go On Mary – Kyle Frey – 120

6. Faypien – Joseph Talamo - 120