Tirupati (outside) just misses in the Buena Vista (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — After coming up a head short in the GII Buena Vista earlier this month at Santa Anita, Tirupati will try again for a graded stakes breakthrough when taking on six rivals in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Wilshire Stakes for older fillies and mares going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
In the Buena Vista, Tirupati had the lead inside the eighth pole before getting nailed late by winner Liguria. It was just her second try in a graded stakes for trainer Jonathan Thomas and owner Augustin Stable. A 4-year-old Mitole filly, Tirupati will have Umberto Rispoli aboard after being ridden by Jose Ortiz Jr. in the Buena Vista.
Tirupati, who drew the rail, enters with a record of 12: 3-3-5 and $157,676 in earnings.
Alpha Bella was a Grade III winner on turf when trained in the east by trainer Todd Pletcher. Late last summer, Alpha Bella was sent west to trainer John Sadler and has subsequently raced exclusively in graded stakes on dirt. She was second last year in both the GII Zenyatta at Santa Anita and GIII Bayakoa at Del Mar before another runner-up finish in the GIII La Canada at Santa Anita in January. Most recently, the 5-year-old Justify mare was fifth in the GI Beholder Mile on March 8 at Santa Anita.
A homebred for Don Alberto Stable, Alpha Bella is 20: 3-7-2 with $481,615 in earnings. She will have Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez aboard for the first time.
Uncorked also exits the Buena Vista for trainer Phil D’Amato. She made a mild rally turning into the stretch but then flattened out late to finish fourth by 3 ¾ lengths. It was her first start in fourth months.
Uncorked, a 6-year-old mare by Pierro, was bred in England where she made her first nine starts. She earned her lone graded stakes win last April in the GIII Royal Heroine when making her first start for D’Amato. Owned by The Elkstone Group LLC, Uncorked is 22: 4-6-2 with $339,999 in earnings. She will be ridden by Antonio Fresu, who was also aboard in the Buena Vista.
THE GIII WILSHIRE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 8 of 10 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT
- Tirupati—Umberto Rispoli—120
- Tahini—Mike Smith—120
- Alpha Bella—Juan Hernandez—124
- Desert Rhapsody—Kyle Frey—120
- Uncorked—Antonio Fresu—124
- Sophisticate—Hector Berrios—120
- Big Hug—Armando Ayuso—122
First post Saturday is 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
