Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Wakanaka seeks a new beginning as a full field of 11 is scheduled to go about 6 1/2 furlongs in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) on the downhill course at Santa Anita Park Jan. 14.
Bred in Ireland by Jean Brennan, Wakanaka was a group 3 winner in Europe before being transferred to the barn of Hall of Famer Bill Mott ahead of the 2022 season. With Mott that year, she won the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine and was grade 1-placed.
In 2023, the daughter of Power added another grade 1 placing but never reached the winner's circle. Ending the year with her California debut in the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar, she ran a disappointing 11th after trailing the field of 12 for the majority of the race and was beaten 5 1/2 lengths.
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Staying in California, the 6-year-old mare has been switched to trainer Michael McCarthy. She attempts to close the gap on $1 million in earnings, currently sitting just above $900,000. Joel Rosario has the mount.
Team Valor also owns Nadette in post 3. Trainer Neil Drysdale sends out the daughter of Outstrip for her first race under a mile in the United States.
Little Red Feather Racing Duo
Matching Team Valor's pair will be a duo of 5-year-old mares from Little Red Feather Racing, Elm Drive and Benedict Canyon.
Elm Drive also exits the Matriarch, finishing seventh and beaten three lengths while posting a career-best 107 Equibase Speed Figure. Flavien Prat will be aboard the daughter of Mohaymen as she cuts back in distance on a course where she's won and run second in two starts, including a victory in the listed Mizdirection Stakes.
Elm Drive will start from post 9 with stakes-placed stablemate Benedict Canyon beside her in post 8.
Both fillies are trained by Phil D'Amato, who also trains Bakster Farm and Gerald Isbister's Honey Pants from post 2 and the lone also-eligible in the field, Adaay In Asia.
Rounding Out the Field
- Kissed by Fire, who rides a three-race win streak for Peter Eurton and Mike Smith;
- Fast and Shiny, who has won and placed in listed stakes on the downhill turf course for Bob Baffert and Drayden Van Dyke;
- Anthonys Cleopatra, who won the California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields but is winless in three starts on turf.
The Las Cienegas will go off as the seventh race with a post time of 3:30 p.m. PT.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, January 14, 2024, Race 7Entries: Las Cienegas S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Free and Humble (KY) Santiago Gonzalez 120 Peter Miller 20/1 2 2Honey Pants (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 120 Philip D'Amato 6/1 3 3Nadette (FR) Hector Isaac Berrios 122 Neil D. Drysdale 5/1 4 4Fast and Shiny (KY) Drayden Van Dyke 122 Bob Baffert 15/1 5 5Kissed by Fire (MD) Mike E. Smith 120 Peter Eurton 8/1 6 6Lexington Humor (KY) Armando Ayuso 120 O. J. Jauregui 30/1 7 7Wakanaka (IRE) Joel Rosario 124 Michael W. McCarthy 3/1 8 8Benedict Canyon (KY) Antonio Fresu 120 Philip D'Amato 15/1 9 9Elm Drive (KY) Flavien Prat 124 Philip D'Amato 5/2 10 10Anthonys Cleopatra (WA) Frank T. Alvarado 122 Tim McCanna 20/1 11 11Gracelund Gray (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 122 Peter Eurton 8/1 12 12Adaay In Asia (GB) Kazushi Kimura 120 Philip D'Amato 6/1
