Kathynmarissa, Mrs. Astor Duel in Santa Ana Stakes

Augustin Stables' Mrs. Astor has been perfect in her last two starts since shipping to California last fall for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The daughter of Lookin at Lucky vies for her third consecutive win on the Golden Coast when facing seven other rivals in the March 15 $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. Despite the 5-year-old's back-to-back graded stakes wins, favoritism for the 1 1/4-mile turf test has fallen upon the Rick Dutrow Jr.-trained Kathynmarissa. Michael Dubb's Kathynmarissa has raced three times in California, including her maiden win in April 2024 and a solid runner-up finish to She Feels Pretty in Santa Anita's American Oaks (G1T) Dec. 26. The American Pharoah filly has been unraced since that effort but has continued training on the West Coast for Dutrow. In her two starts before the American Oaks, she rallied to a 2 1/2-length victory in the Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs and was a game second to Cinderella's Dream (GB) in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T), where she ran a 108 Equibase Speed Figure. Regular rider Frankie Dettori will pilot Kathynmarissa from the outer 8 post. Mrs. Astor stretches out in trip after taking the 1 1/8-mile Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) by a nose in her most recent outing. Umberto Rispoli will ride the mare for the first time Saturday. Mahina, just beaten by Mrs Astor in the Robert J. Frankel, is entered in search of her first black-type win for trainer Patrick Gallagher. The field further includes 5-1 morning-line shot Starry Heavens (IRE), a daughter of Mastercraftsman (IRE) and an import to the United States who races for trainer Phil D'Amato and owner R Unicorn Stable. Starry Heavens was a stakes winner at Longchamp in 2023. She has not raced since July when seventh in the Irish E.B.F. Stanerra Stakes (G3) going about 1 3/4 miles at Fairyhouse in Ireland. "She's been training very well," D'Amato told Santa Anita publicity. "(Jockey) Antonio Fresu has been working her and he's been really impressed with what he's felt underneath him. This is why they sent her to me, to run in these marathon-type races." Reflecting on how Starry Heavens fits with the competition in Santa Ana, D'Amato added, "It's a nice, salty field with a mare coming off a grade 1 placing (Kathynmarissa) and another mare that's won two graded stakes in a row (Mrs. Astor). "This is a good starting point. I think she's going to be a nice marathon mare for me down the road."