NEWS
Gabby’s Golden Gal set for return in La Brea
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 3:42 PM
by Frank Angst
Grade 1 winner Gabby’s Golden Gal will return from a layoff of nearly six months when she faces 11 other three-year-old fillies in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
The Medaglia d’Oro filly has not raced since finishing seventh in the Prioress Stakes (G1) on July 4 at Belmont Park. Trainer Bob Baffert told Daily Racing Form that Gabby’s Golden Gal suffered a minor foot injury in that race when she pulled a shoe off. Before that race, Gabby’s Golden Gal secured a victory in the Acorn Stakes (G1).
While the Acorn on the dirt surface at Belmont marked her first career stakes win, Gabby’s Golden Gal has raced well on synthetic surfaces, on which she secured her maiden win and two other placings in three starts. Gabby’s Golden Gal has been preparing for the seven-furlong La Brea with steady workouts, including six at Santa Anita since November 20.
The race also has attracted Evita Argentina, who has twice won Grade 2 races at seven furlongs: the A Gleam Handicap on July 18 at Hollywood Park and the San Vicente Stakes on February 16 at Santa Anita.
Starlarks will try to secure her first main-track stakes win after taking this year’s San Clemente Handicap (G2) on the turf at Del Mar.
Some fillies entering in top form include Kays and Jays, who won the seven-furlong Cascapedia Stakes on November 8 at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Amazed by Grace, who enters off five straight sprint wins at Philadelphia Park.
Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times
