Santa Anita: Gate to Paradise rates a big shot in Chandelier

Although winless in two starts sprinting, Gate to Paradise showed marked improvement in her most recent start, and her connections are hopeful she’ll continue her ascendancy as she stretches out against nine rival juvenile fillies at 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Chandelier is a Breeders’ Cup win-and-you’re-in qualifier, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Gate to Paradise ran into a buzzsaw going seven furlongs in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) as she finished third, beaten nine lengths by a possible superstar in the making, the Richard Mandella-trained Tamara, who will train up to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Although she was well beaten, Gate to Paradise earned a respectable 73 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form, 10 points better than her debut third-place performance against eight maiden fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 13.

By Arrogate out of the More Than Ready mare Heart of Paradise, Gate to Paradise sold for $950,000 at an Ocala 2-year-old in training sale in March. Given her running style and pedigree, Gate to Paradise gives every indication that she should improve around two turns with Kent Desormeaux back aboard.

While Gate to Paradise improved in her second start, Dua appeared to regress in the Sorrento Stakes (G3) on Aug. 12, which followed a promising debut going five furlongs July 22 at Del Mar. Off as the 3-5 favorite first time out, she pressed the pace and prevailed by a half length, earning a 73 Beyer.

Off at 9-5 against six rivals in the six-furlong Sorrento, Dua tired to finish third, beaten 10 3/4 lengths, earning a markedly lower 57 Beyer. Trained by Bob Baffert, Dua, a filly by Arrogate out of the Consolidator mare Attempt to Name, will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Juan Hernandez and could bounce back with a big effort stretching out.