Playlist wins an allowance optional claimer July 15 at Saratoga (NYRA/Coglianese)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Wesley Ward, always dangerous off the airplane or out of his own stall, sends out a talented daughter of Uncle Mo, Playlist, who figures prominently among a field of 13 distaffers going about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in Friday’s $150,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes.
Based at Keeneland Racecourse, Playlist was most recently second, beaten 2 ¼ lengths in a field of 12 going 6 ½ furlongs on turf in a Grade II Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9. In what will be her first try down the unique hillside course, Playlist, a three-year-old filly who is out of the Malibu Moon mare Bon Jovi Girl, handled older competition in breaking going 5 ½ furlongs on turf at Ellis Park in a first condition allowance three starts back and she then prevailed by three quarters of a length as the 9-5 favorite versus older at the same trip two starts back on July 15 at Saratoga.
With John Velazquez back aboard for a third consecutive time, Playlist, who earned a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure at Kentucky Downs Sept. 9, appears well spotted and at the top of her game. Owned by Westerburg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, Playlist, who will be competing in her second stakes, is 7-3-1-1 with earnings of $386,310.
Honey Pants, one of three Phil D’Amato-trained entrants, finished up as best when third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths in a five furlong turf allowance at Del Mar Sept. 1 and rates a huge chance with leading man Juan Hernandez taking the call for the first time. A sharp second in her only hillside try, the ungraded Mizdirection Stakes three starts back on May 20, this 5-year-old mare by Cairo Prince out of the Afternoon Deelites mare Queens Carousel, will hope to be rolling late as she too seeks her first stakes win.
Owned by Bakster Farm, LLC and Gerald Isbister, Honey Pants, who will be making her fourth start of the year, is 20-3-8-2 overall with earnings of $295,406.
In a field that is truly loaded with turf distaffers in top form, trainer Peter Eurton’s Brandon’smylawyer is no exception. Idle since running second, beaten a head as the 3-2 favorite going five furlongs on turf Sept. 1 at Del Mar, this 4-year-old filly by the Medaglia d’Oro stallion Astern has one win from two tries down the hill.
In what will be her second start for Eurton, Brandon’smylawyer will be ridden for the first time by eastern stalwart Joel Rosario and can be counted upon to attend the early Maddy pace. Owned by Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing, LLC, she seeks her first stakes win and approaches the race with three wins and two seconds from eight starts.
The Senator Ken Maddy is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for California-bred or sired horses.
Many handicappers prefer a horse shortening up from two turns when running down the hillside turf course and John Sadler’s Unbridled Mary fits that bill as she pressed the pace and finished a close third at one mile on turf here in the restricted Swingtime Oct. 9. An ungraded stakes winner going five panels on turf three starts back at Lone Star Park June 24, this 4-year-old daughter of Maclean’s Music has two wins and one second place finish from four hillside tries and will hope to be rolling late under Hector Berrios.
Owned by Pearl Racing, Pine Racing Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds, Unbridled Mary, who is out of the Tale of the Cat mare Bauble, is 11-4-1-2 overall with earnings of $253,105 and will be handled by regular rider Hector Berrios.
THE $150,000 SENATOR KEN MADDY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 3 of 10 Approximate post time 12:30 p.m. PT
- Stoic Luna—Ricardo Gonzalez—126
- White Moonlight—Oisin Murphy—126
- Honey Pants—Juan Hernandez—124
- Elm Drive—Flavien Prat—126
- Eddie’s New Dream—Mario Gutierrez–126
- Unbridled Mary—Hector Berrios—126
- Benedict Canyon—Lanfranco Dettori—124
- Wet My Beak—Jose Ortiz—122
- Can’t Buy Love—Luis Saez—126
- Brandon’smylawyer—Joel Rosario—124
- Freedom Flyer—Antonio Fresu–126
- Playlist—John Velazquez—120
- Rose Maddox—Tiago Pereira—126
Friday is day one of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita. With a blockbuster 10-race card that will include five Breeders’ Cup races, first post time is at 11:30 a.m. with admission gates opening at 9:30 a.m.
