Streaking Just Grazed Me headlines Sunshine Millions at Santa Anita
A Grade 3 winner in her most recent start over the course and a winner of her last three races, Nick Alexander’s homebred Just Grazed Me deserves top billing among a field of seven older fillies and mares at 5 ½ furlongs on grass in Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.
A respectable fifth in the Dec. 28 American Oaks (G1), KMN Racing’s classy homebred Apache Princess cuts way back in distance, gets an infrequent appointment with Cal-breds in the Turf Sprint and rates a huge chance as well.
Claimed two starts back for $80,000, trainer Keith Desormeaux’s Stealthediamonds comes off a big five-furlong turf allowance win on Nov. 24 at Del Mar, a race in which she earned a lofty 92 Beyer Speed figure.
The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint is part of the lucrative Golden State Series. Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.
JUST GRAZED ME
Owner: Nick Alexander
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
A recent winner of two 5 ½-furlong turf stakes, the Senator Ken Maddy (G3) on Nov. 2 and the California Distaff Handicap on Oct. 12, this 5-year-old mare by Grazen was a five furlong turf allowance winner three starts back on Aug. 14 at Del Mar. Out of the Cuvee mare Fairway Road, Just Grazed Me has an outstanding overall mark of 10: 6-3-1, with earnings of $394,332. She figures be a short priced favorite on Saturday.
APACHE PRINCESS
Owner: KMN Racing, LLC
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
A close second to Just Grazed Me three starts back in the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes, Apache Princess, who was most recently fifth, beaten 4 ½ lengths in the 1 ¼-mile American Oaks, has two seconds from as many tries at 5 ½ furlongs on turf. With an overall mark of 15: 3-6-1, she has earnings of $292,162. A 4-year-old filly by Unusual Heat, out of the Indian Charlie mare Puskita, Apache Princess will be ridden for the second time by Flavien Prat.
STEALTHEDIAMONDS
Owner: James L. Driver & Ywachetta H. Driver
Trainer: Mike Puype
With three wins from five tries at 5 ½ furlongs, this 4-year-old daughter of Unusual Heat should relish the trip on Saturday as she’ll be reunited with veteran Agapito Delgadillo, who guided her to a one-length, gate-to-wire win going five furlongs on turf Nov. 24 at Del Mar. Although winless in four previous stakes attempts, Stealthediamonds is in outstanding recent form, as she’s won three out of her last five starts dating back to Aug. 11. With an overall mark of 16: 5-3-4, she has earnings of $199,875.
The field for the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint in post position order:
1. Just Grazed Me—Geovanni Franco—124
2. Into Rissa—Tiago Pereira—120
3. Stealthediamonds—Agapito Delgadillo—122
4. Show It N Moe It—Rafael Bejarano—124
5. Apache Princess—Flavien Prat—124
6. Lakerball—Abel Cedillo—122
7. Lippy—Mario Gutierrez—120
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