Santa Anita: 3 graded-stakes winners clash in La Cañada
Photo:
Renee Torbit / Churchill Downs
Three graded-stakes winners – Musical Mischief, Alpha Bella and Chatalas – plus upstart Cavalieri are among a competitive group of fillies and mares set go in Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 La Cañada Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.
Musical Mischief is back in Southern California after spending the majority of 2024 with trainer Michael McCarthy’s string in Kentucky. In September, she won the Locust Grove (G2) at Churchill Downs going 1 1/16 miles. Then she tried the 1 1/8-mile Falls City (G3), also at Churchill Downs, on Nov. 28 and finished sixth when catching a muddy track.
In last year’s La Cañada, Musical Mischief finished fourth before relocating to the Midwest. Umberto Rispoli was aboard in last year’s La Cañada and the 36-year-old Italian has the call again this time around. A 5-year-old mare by Into Mischief, Musical Mischief is 13: 4-2-1 with $518,776 in earnings for owner Wathnan Racing.
Alpha Bella returns to action following a freshening for trainer John Sadler and owner-breeder Don Alberto Stable. The 5-year-old Justify mare closed out 2024 with consecutive runner-up finishes in the Zenyatta (G2) at Santa Anita in September and the Bayakoa (G3) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
Alpha Bella will be ridden by Eclipse Award-finalist Flavien Prat. She has a record of 18: 3-6-2 with $455,615 in earnings.
Chatalas, trained by Mark Glatt, won the Chandelier (G2) at Santa Anita as a 2-year-old and last year added a win in the Indiana Oaks (G3) at Indiana Grand in July. The 4-year-old Gun Runner filly most recently tried turf in the American Oaks (G1) on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita and never threatened when finishing eighth.
Chatalas has a record of 10: 3-1-2 with $393,670 in earnings for owner-breeder Dan J. Agnew, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and William Chatalas. She will be reunited with jockey Antonio Fresu, who was previously aboard for her wins in the Chandelier and American Oaks.
Cavalieri is an ascending 4-year-old for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Speedway Stable. She won her debut going a mile in front-running fashion at Del Mar in August and came right back to dominate allowance foes going a mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 12. The runner-up that day, Jubilant Joanie, came back to win her next start.
By Nyquist, Cavalieri will have regular rider Juan Hernandez in the irons.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Alpha Bella Justify |
6.57 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Chatalas Gun Runner |
6.47 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Che Evasora Greenspring |
6.07 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Musical Mischief Into Mischief |
6.60 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Big Hug Mr Big |
0.00 |
2nd, Glendale Overnight S. |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, Glendale Overnight S. |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Cavalieri Nyquist |
5.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
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