ARCADIA, Calif. – Baoma Corp’s streaking Eda looms a standout in Sunday’s $75,000 Angel’s Flight Stakes at Santa Anita as she seeks her fifth consecutive stakes win among a field of six sophomore fillies going seven furlongs.
Originally trained by recently suspended Bob Baffert, Eda comes off a solid half length score going a mile and one sixteenth in the Grade II Santa Ysabel Stakes March 6, which followed the biggest win of her career in the Grade I Starlet Stakes going the same distance at Los Alamitos on Dec. 4.
Now in the care of Sean McCarthy, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Munnings, who is out of the Lemon Drop Kid made Show Me, will be ridden for the third straight time by Juan Hernandez and can be expected to show her customary early speed, which was very much in evidence in winning the Desi Arnaz Stakes three starts back at Del Mar on Nov. 13 and in taking the six furlong Anoakia here on Oct. 24.
A $550,000 Florida March 2-year-old in training sale purchase last year, Eda has now banked $430, from an overall mark of 7-5-1-0.
A first-out maiden winner going five furlongs at Los Alamitos on June 26, Little Red Feather Racing’s Elm Drive followed that up with a head victory going six furlongs in the Grade II Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar, but then went off-form in her next two starts as she was distanced in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs Sept. 5 and the Grade II Chandelier Stakes going a mile and one sixteenth here on Oct. 1.
Idle since the Chandelier, Elm Drive has a steady work pattern on both Santa Anita’s inner training track and one mile main track for her return, her most recent drill coming on May 1, when she got five furlongs on the main track in 1:00.80.
Trained by current meet leader Phil D’Amato, Elm Drive has two wins from four starts and earnings of $148,000, she’ll be ridden for the first time by Ricky Gonzalez as Juan Hernandez has opted to stick with Eda.
Trainer Ryan Hanson will be looking for an upset with Unsolved Mystery, a filly by Goldencents who returns to Santa Anita following a gutty half length win accomplished in gate to wire fashion in the one mile Arizona Oaks at Turf Paradise on March 11.
Owned by California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing LLC and Seacoast Racing LLC, Unsolved Mystery was a galloping 8 ¼ length maiden $80,000 winner going six furlongs two starts back here on Feb. 6, a race in which she earned a career best 75 Beyer Speed Figure, Unsolved Mystery is in search of her third consecutive win in what will be her sixth career start.
A $20,000 Florida March 2-year-old in training sale purchase last year, Unsolved Mystery, who is out of the Whywhywhy mare Why the Mystery, has earnings of $82,885 and will be ridden by regular rider Mario Gutierrez.
THE $75,000 ANGEL’S FLIGHT STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 5 of 10 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT
1. Classical Romance – Ryan Curatolo – 122
2. Empire Gal – Victor Espinoza – 120
3. Elm Drive – Ricardo Gonzalez – 124
4. Eda – Juan Hernandez – 124
5. Unsolved Mystery – Mario Gutierrez – 124
6. Kristenbosch – Tyler Baze – 120
First post time for a 10-race Mother’s Day card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. with admission gates opening at 11 a.m.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Photo: Benoit Photo
