Mrs. Astor after winning the Robert J. Frankel (G3) Dec. 27 at Santa Anita (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — Mrs. Astor, winner of two consecutive graded stakes for trainer Jonathan Thomas, and GI American Oaks runner-up Kathynmarissa lead an eight-horse field entered in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes for fillies and mares going 1 ¼ miles on turf at Santa Anita.
Mrs. Astor comes in following wins in both the GIII Red Carpet at 1 3/8 miles in November at Del Mar and the GIII Robert J. Frankel going 1 1/8 miles on Dec. 27. In the Frankel, Mrs. Astor rallied to win by a nose over Mahina, who also returns in the Santa Ana.
A 5-year-old Lookin at Lucky mare, Mrs. Astor is 16: 4-4-3 with $355,235 in earnings for owner-breeder Augustin Stable. She will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli for the first time.
Kathynmarissa was second to highly regarded She Feels Pretty in the American Oaks going 1 ¼ miles on Dec. 26, opening day of the Santa Anita Classic Meet. Trained by Richard Dutrow, Kathynmarissa last year also won the Dueling Grounds Oaks going 1 5/16 miles at Kentucky Downs in September and was second in the GII Saratoga Oaks.
Kathynmarissa is a 4-year-old American Pharoah filly owned by Michael Dubb. She is 9: 2-3-2 with $1,207,185 in earnings. Frankie Dettori, who rode Kathynmarissa in all three aforementioned stakes, again has the call.
Mahina, trained by Patrick Gallagher, followed up her near miss to Mrs. Astor in the Frankel with another second-place finish in the GIII Megahertz going a mile Feb. 1 at Santa Anita. Seeking her first stakes win, the 5-year-old Bolt d’Oro mare has a record of 18: 4-4-3 with $189,640 in earnings for owners U.S. Equine, Walter Burke, Aaron Sones and Harry Wilson. She will have Hector Berrios aboard.
The new face in the lineup is European import Starry Heavens for trainer Phil D’Amato and owner R Unicorn Stable. Bred in Ireland, Starry Heavens was a stakes winner in Europe where she compiled a record of 16: 3-0-2 and $72,778 in earnings. The 5-year-old mare by Mastercraftsman will be ridden by Antonio Fresu for U.S. debut.
THE GIII SANTA ANA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 8 of 10 – Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT
- Lady Claypoole—Tiago Pereira—120
- Mahina—Hector Berrios—120
- Mrs. Astor—Umberto Rispoli—124
- Omaha Girl—Geovanni Franco—122
- Starry Heavens—Antonio Fresu—122
- Sakura Blossom—Juan Hernandez—122
- Big Hug—Armando Ayuso—122
- Kathynmarissa—Frankie Dettori—122
First post Saturday is 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
