There is a pair of graded-stakes races on the schedule from Santa Anita Saturday, starting with the $300,000 Grade I Las Virgenes for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. The race has drawn a field of eight, including the UK-bred Earthflight, who will be making her US debut after eight starts in England. The Bob Baffert-trained Streaming has been tabbed as the 2-1 morning line favorite, coming into this off a win in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet Stakes in early December.
Top two in recent graded-stake meet again
That win was her second career start and second win after breaking her maiden first try at Hollywood two weeks prior. She did that when finishing two lengths ahead of the third-place finisher Artemis, who she’ll face again on Saturday. The co-third choice in the ML at 4-1, she steadily improved through three races, running second her next time and then winning on her third try running a mile at Santa Anita. Taste Like Candy, second in both the Hollywood Starlet and the Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes is second choice at 5-2.
Longer shots have stakes wins on their record
Outside of Earthflight (15-1), who will be making her first start on dirt and first time on Lasix, a solid long shot could be Arethusa (8-1), who won the Sharp Cat Stakes at Hollywood Park back in November by more than eight lengths, despite a slow start. She was only fifth in the Hollywood Starlet, but had to recover after a hard bump leaving the gate and was making up ground on the leaders late. Sushi Empire, also at 8-1, comes in off a win in the Blue Norther Stakes on the turf. Prior to that she was third in the Grade III Miesque Stakes, also on the turf.
The 2023 Preakness Stakes is coming up Saturday, May 20 at Pimlico! It is one of the most eagerly-awaited events of the racing year, and this is the place to […]
The Preakness Stakes is coming up on Saturday, May 15, 2021. The second jewel of the American Triple Crown drew a field of 10 top three-year-olds. Find out the top contenders in the race, and learn the best places to place your bets!
After all the drama of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the racing scene shifts to Pimlico Race Course in anticipation of the running of the 2019 Preakness Stakes. A couple of the high-profile contenders from the Derby are expected in the field, as well as a number of new shooters that add to the handicapping puzzle and could provide good betting value.
The field has been established for the 2016 running of the Belmont Stakes and of the thirteen contenders, there are four horses who competed in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and are moving on to the third jewel of the Triple Crown.
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