Santa Anita: Tirupati looks for breakthrough in Wilshire Stakes

After coming up a head short in the Grade 2 Buena Vista earlier this month at Santa Anita, Tirupati will try again for a graded-stakes breakthrough when taking on six rivals in Saturday’s $100,000 Wilshire Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

In the Buena Vista, Tirupati had the lead inside the eighth pole before getting nailed late by winner Liguria. It was just her second try in a graded stakes for trainer Jonathan Thomas and owner Augustin Stable. A 4-year-old Mitole filly, Tirupati will have Umberto Rispoli aboard after being ridden by Jose Ortiz Jr. in the Buena Vista.

Tirupati, who drew the rail, enters with a record of 12: 3-3-5 and $157,676 in earnings.

Alpha Bella was a Grade 3 winner on turf when trained in the east by trainer Todd Pletcher. Late last summer, Alpha Bella was sent west to trainer John Sadler and has subsequently raced exclusively in graded stakes on dirt. She was second last year in both the Zenyatta (G2) at Santa Anita and Bayakoa (G3) at Del Mar before another runner-up finish in the La Cañada (G3) at Santa Anita in January. Most recently, the 5-year-old Justify mare was fifth in the Beholder Mile (G1) on March 8 at Santa Anita.

A homebred for Don Alberto Stable, Alpha Bella is 20: 3-7-2 with $481,615 in earnings. She will have Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez aboard for the first time.

Uncorked also exits the Buena Vista for trainer Phil D’Amato. She made a mild rally turning into the stretch but then flattened out late to finish fourth by 3 3/4 lengths. It was her first start in fourth months.

Uncorked, a 6-year-old mare by Pierro, was bred in England, where she made her first nine starts. She earned her lone graded-stakes win last April in the Royal Heroine (G3) when making her first start for D’Amato. Owned by The Elkstone Group, Uncorked is 22: 4-6-2 with $339,999 in earnings. She will be ridden by Antonio Fresu, who also was aboard in the Buena Vista.