The stakes action starts early Jan. 28 at Santa Anita Park with the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies set to go as the second race at approximately 1 p.m. PT. Among the field of six set to compete at a mile on the main track are Faiza and Pride of the Nile, who were separated by just a head when running one-two in last month's Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos Race Course.
Faiza, who prevailed as the 1-2 favorite under Flavien Prat for trainer Bob Baffert, was partially aided in the victory by a slow start from Pride of the Nile. The second-longest shot on the board at 12-1 for trainer Doug O'Neill, Pride of the Nile stumbled out of the gate under Juan Hernandez and found herself next to last after the opening quarter mile. The Pioneerof the Nile filly managed to work her way into contention down the backstretch, and after a rail-skimming move on the second turn, looked poised to spring the upset in the 1 1/16-mile Starlet. But it would ultimately prove to no avail as Faiza outlasted her rival to the wire.
Pride of the Nile will look to turn the tables Saturday in the Las Virgenes, which is a points-paying prep for the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1). Also entered in the Las Virgenes are the highly regarded Justique for trainer John Shirreffs; Uncontrollable, who was third, beaten 5 1/2 lengths, in the Starlet for Michael McCarthy; turf stakes winner Broadway Girls for O'Neill; and Sweet Trouble, a two-start maiden for Phil D'Amato.
Pride of the Nile has worked five times since the Starlet, including a bullet five-furlong drill in :59.80 on Jan. 13. Just prior to boarding a plane to Florida on Thursday, O'Neill expressed optimism of her chances via phone.
"She's really been doing well," he said. "It's a tough race, but we're hoping for a similar effort as Los Alamitos."
Pride of the Nile will again be ridden by Hernandez in the Las Virgenes while Faiza will have new jockey Ramon Vazquez in the irons. He replaces Prat, who on Saturday will ride at Oaklawn Park where his mounts include the Brad Cox-trained Corona Bolt in the Southwest Stakes (G3), a prep for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
The Las Virgenes serves as a steppingstone to the April 1 $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and awards qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks to the top five finishers on a scale of 20-8-6-4-2.
Entries: Las Virgenes S. (G3)
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, January 28, 2023, Race 2
- Grade III
- 1m
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 12:59 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Faiza (KY) | Ramon A. Vazquez | 124 | Bob Baffert | 8/5 |
| 2 | 2Sweet Trouble (KY) | Kent J. Desormeaux | 120 | Philip D'Amato | 12/1 |
| 3 | 3Broadway Girls (KY) | Edwin A. Maldonado | 124 | Doug F. O'Neill | 8/1 |
| 4 | 4Pride of the Nile (KY) | Juan J. Hernandez | 122 | Doug F. O'Neill | 3/1 |
| 5 | 5Uncontrollable (CA) | Kazushi Kimura | 120 | Michael W. McCarthy | 8/1 |
| 6 | 6Justique (KY) | Victor Espinoza | 120 | John A. Shirreffs | 9/5 |
