Spellbound Likes Santa Anita Oval

If there are horses for courses, Spellbound certainly fits the category when it comes to running on Santa Anita’s main track.

The $260,000 Kentucky-bred daughter of Bernardini has raced three times on Santa Anita’s conventional dirt course, winning twice and finishing fourth in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks behind stablemate Beholder, who in all likelihood will win an Eclipse Award tonight as outstanding 3-year-old filly of 2013.

Spellbound seeks her first stakes win Sunday in the Grade II, $200,000 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. She was a distant sixth after an eventful trip last out in the Grade II Bayakoa Stakes on Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track.

“It seems she really doesn’t like synthetic (surfaces),” said Victor Espinoza, who has ridden the bay filly in all but her first start, the last six in a row. “Her race at Hollywood Park was not her thing.

“She’s run better on the dirt, and all three of those have been at Santa Anita. She’s doing well right now and hopefully she runs big this time.”

Trainer Jim Cassidy sees an advantage in running Oscar Party solely against 4-year-old fillies. “The 4-year-olds haven’t matured as much as the older horses,” he said. “They’ll do that later in the year. Oscar Party’s been very consistent outside of her Breeders’ Cup race.”

The field for the La Canada: Let Faith Arise, Corey Nakatani, 12-1; Ondine, Martin Garcia, 4-1; Oscar Party, Joe Talamo, 8-1; Fiftyshadesofhay, Mike Smith, 8-5; Broken Sword, Rafael Bejarano, 7-5; Spellbound, Victor Espinoza, 8-1; and Rathbaun, Tyler Baze, 15-1.