Photo:
Santa Anita / Benoit Photo
Schilflied, the 5-1 third choice on the morning line in
Sunday’s $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, was second to
morning-line favorite Casalu (7-5) when going a mile on turf in the Blue
Norther on Dec. 28 at Santa Anita.
This time around they will meet going about 6 1/2 furlongs
on the hillside turf course.
Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.
Patrick Gallagher, Schilflied’s trainer, thinks the shorter
distance could prove the winning difference Sunday.
We tried her a couple times going long, and she just didn’t
seem to finish her races,” Gallagher said Saturday. “We thought this was an
interesting race to take a shot at.”
Neither Schilflied nor Casalu has tried the unique, hillside
turf course. Casalu, who earned her first stakes win in the Blue Norther for
trainer Bob Baffert, never has sprinted on turf. Schilflied’s only previous
sprint try resulted in a sharp, 3 1/2-length, maiden win going 6 1/2 furlongs
on Santa Anita’s main turf course in October.
By Mendelssohn, Schilflied will wheel back quickly. After the Blue Norther, Schiflied returned two weeks ago going a mile on turf at Santa Anita and finished third in a first-level allowance.
“It’s coming back a little quick, but the race looked tempting,” Gallagher said.
Schilflied will be ridden by Héctor Berrios, who was aboard for her previous two starts. Berrios, who ranks fourth in the jockeys standings during the current Santa Anita meet, has gained notoriety this winter, particularly for his work on turf.
“Hopefully we get a good trip. We’re optimistic,” Gallagher said.
The Sweet Life goes as the seventh race on a nine-race card Sunday. With early first post of 2 p.m. EST because the Super Bowl will be played 4 1/2 hours later, the Sweet Life is set for 5:02 p.m.
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start | Morn. line |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
Hey Lil Lady Goldencents |
0.00 | Bob Hess Jr. | 12-1 | |
Last race |
||||||
2 |
|
How About Pavel Pavel |
0.00 | 20-1 | ||
Last race |
||||||
3 |
|
Schilflied Mendelssohn |
5.84 | 5-1 | ||
Last race |
||||||
4 |
|
Tequilaandtherapy Mrazek |
4.79 | 9-2 | ||
Last race |
||||||
5 |
|
Casalu Caracaro |
6.26 | 7-5 | ||
Last race |
||||||
6 |
|
Practical Dream Practical Joke |
6.34 | 12-1 | ||
Last race |
||||||
7 |
|
As Catch Can Mo Town |
5.92 | 15-1 | ||
Last race |
||||||
8 |
|
Going Deep Bodexpress |
0.00 | 12-1 | ||
Last race |
||||||
9 |
|
Acquitted Into Mischief |
0.00 | 6-1 | ||
Last race |
||||||
10 |
|
Ce La Vi Charli Classic Empire |
0.00 | 30-1 | ||
Last race |
Photo: Jason Moran / Eclipse Sportswire Jockey Mychel Sanchez will serve a seven-day suspension and pay an additional $1,750 in fines
Photo: Gulfstream Park / Lauren King Sovereignty, dramatic late-running winner of the Fountain of Youth (G2) March 1, is being pointed
Photo: Santa Anita / Benoit Photo Cavalieri and Alpha Bella, who finished one-two in the Grade 3 La Cañada in January at Santa Anita,
Photo: Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire The stars will shine Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, and not just in the Grade 3 Tampa Ba