Lady Prancealot won't change her style for Santa Anita's Buena Vista
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Photo:
Coady Photography
Santa Anita training leader Richard Baltas has Lady Prancealot primed for Saturday's Buena Vista Stakes (G2), a highly contentious test for older fillies and mares at one mile on turf.
A stone closer, the Irish-bred mare is coming off five straight races of at least a mile and one-sixteenth in distance, the latest being the Valley View (G3) at Keeneland last Oct. 18, when she rallied from 10th in a field of 14 to win by three-quarters of a length at odds of 10-1.
In her most recent start, she captured Santa Anita's American Oaks (G1) at 1 1/4 miles on turf, coming from sixth in a field of eight, splitting foes and bulling her way through on the rail to win by a half-length. Both times she was ridden by Joe Bravo, who is back aboard tomorrow.
"He's 2-for-2 on her and we had planned to run in this race all the while," said Baltas, also the newest Board member of the California Thoroughbred Trainers. "It's a very competitive and tough race, but she's won at a mile before and we're not going to change her style for this race."
Twelve of the 18 horses nominated to the Buena Vista entered. Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale, who conditions stakes-winning French-bred La Sardane, is also represented.
“It’s a very contentious race," he said. "y filly is consistent, but it is a tough race.”
Drysdale won the 1998 Buena Vista with Dance Parade, who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux, the Hall of Fame rider now plying his trade at Golden Gate Fields.
Carressa made her grass debut a winning one on Jan. 20, coming from just off the pace to capture the Megahertz Stakes (G3) by three-quarters of a length.
Victor Espinoza is confident the 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly trained by John Shirreffs will continue to progress in what will be her seventh career start.
“She’s been running well and she’s improving,” said the Hall of Fame member who rode American Pharoah to a Triple Crown sweep in 2015. “That’s what I like about her.”
"She’s got a good running style. She can be in front or track, and it’s easy to put her in the right position when I ask. Of course, a lot depends on how the race sets up, but I’ve worked her before this race and she’s doing pretty good.”
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