Santa Anita Sunday: Schilflied may enjoy cutback in Sweet Life

Schilflied, the 5-1 third choice on the morning line in Sunday’s $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, was second to morning-line favorite Casalu (7-5) when going a mile on turf in the Blue Norther on Dec. 28 at Santa Anita.

This time around they will meet going about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.

Patrick Gallagher, Schilflied’s trainer, thinks the shorter distance could prove the winning difference Sunday.

We tried her a couple times going long, and she just didn’t seem to finish her races,” Gallagher said Saturday. “We thought this was an interesting race to take a shot at.”

Neither Schilflied nor Casalu has tried the unique, hillside turf course. Casalu, who earned her first stakes win in the Blue Norther for trainer Bob Baffert, never has sprinted on turf. Schilflied’s only previous sprint try resulted in a sharp, 3 1/2-length, maiden win going 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita’s main turf course in October.

By Mendelssohn, Schilflied will wheel back quickly. After the Blue Norther, Schiflied returned two weeks ago going a mile on turf at Santa Anita and finished third in a first-level allowance.

“It’s coming back a little quick, but the race looked tempting,” Gallagher said.

Schilflied will be ridden by Héctor Berrios, who was aboard for her previous two starts. Berrios, who ranks fourth in the jockeys standings during the current Santa Anita meet, has gained notoriety this winter, particularly for his work on turf.

“Hopefully we get a good trip. We’re optimistic,” Gallagher said.

The Sweet Life goes as the seventh race on a nine-race card Sunday. With early first post of 2 p.m. EST because the Super Bowl will be played 4 1/2 hours later, the Sweet Life is set for 5:02 p.m.