Sweet Repent shoots for 5th straight

Buongiorna A. Tutti Stable’s 4-year-old filly Sweet Repent has won her last four starts at Calder for trainer Dave Braddy and will be well-supported to extend that streak in a field of nine fillies and mares entered in the $300,00 Sunshine Millions Distaff, although facing new challenges with shippers from California and Louisiana.

Regular rider Manoel Cruz will be back aboard Sweet Repent in the 1 1/8 miles test after a hard-fought nose victory last out in the Stage Door Betty Handicap (G3) at Calder on Dec. 26. The stretch-running daughter of Repent had previously swept to victories in an allowance in August, Judy’s Red Shoes Stakes in September and Elmer Heubeck Distaff on Nov. 14 before the Stage Door Betty.

Marilyn Seltzer’s 5-year-old Amazing led every step but the last in the Stage Door Betty and Farnsworth Stable’s 6-year-old mare Jessica Is Back set the pace in the Elmer Heubeck before giving way and settling for runner-up honors behind Sweet Repent in the Elmer Heubeck.

Both mares do their best running on the lead and will try Sweet Repent again Saturday with Julien Leparoux riding Jessica Is Back for trainer Marty Wolfson and Elvis Trujillo aboard Amazing for trainer Brian Lynch. Amazing makes her first start since the Stage Door Betty while Jessica Is Back came back for an impressive front-running allowance score on Dec. 6.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and partners’ 5-year-old Florida-bred Christmas Ship invades from California and will be ridden by John R. Velazquez. Kent Desormeaux takes the call on Robert A. Adams’ 6-year-old Unforgotten, who is shipping in from the Fair Grounds in Louisiana for trainer Dallas Stewart to contest the Distaff.

Completing the field for the Distaff are Lucille Geranis’ Cat Can Do, Fernando Abreu’s Granted Tiger, Ersoff Racing Stable’s Even Road and Haras Santa Maria de Araras’ Scolara.