Musical Mischief scores in the Locust Grove Sep. 14, 2024, at Churchill Downs (Coady Media)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — 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 III, $100,000 La Canada 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 GII Locust Grove at Churchill Downs going 1 1/16 miles. Then she tried the 1 1/8-mile GIII Falls City, also at Churchill Downs, on Nov. 28 and finished sixth when catching a muddy track.
In last year’s La Canada, Musical Mischief finished fourth before relocating to the Midwest. Umberto Rispoli was aboard in last year’s La Canada 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 GII Zenyatta at Santa Anita in September and the GIII Bayakoa 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 GII Chandelier at Santa Anita as a 2-year-old and last year added a win in the GIII Indiana Oaks at Indiana Grand in July. The 4-year-old Gun Runner filly most recently tried turf in the GI American Oaks 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.
THE GIII LA CANADA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 8 of 11 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT
- Alpha Bella – Flavien Prat – 124
- Chatalas – Antonio Fresu – 124
- Che Evasora – Tiago Pereira – 124
- Musical Mischief – Umberto Rispoli – 124
- Big Hug – Mike Smith – 122
- Cavalieri – Juan Hernandez – 120
First post Sunday is at 11:30 a.m. PT. Admission gates open at 9:30 a.m.
