NEWS
Killer Graces looks for follow-up score in Santa Ysabel Stakes
Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012 3:42 PM
KILLER GRACES
Benoit & Associates photo
by Joe Nevills
After wrapping up her two-year-old season with the biggest victory of her career, Killer Graces will try to carry that momentum into 2012 in the Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
The 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-old fillies will be contested by a field of six following the scratch of Coup de Coeur earlier in the week.
Killer Graces enters Saturday’s race with the field’s lone graded stakes victory, a half-length score in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (G1) on December 10 at Hollywood Park. The Congaree filly has shown versatility in her game, having won stakes races at 5 ½ furlongs, six furlongs and at 1 1/16 miles.
“She’s training very good,” said Dan Ward, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. “She was a maiden when we bought her right after her first race [second by a nose at Hollywood Park last May 11] and she’s really been a pleasant surprise.”
Regular rider Joe Talamo once again will have the riding assignment for the partnership of Daniel Borislow, Gillian Campbell, Steve Melen, and Jerry Hollendorfer.
Charm the Maker, the horse that finished second to Killer Graces in the Hollywood Starlet, will get a chance for a rubber match against that rival on Saturday after defeating her in the Sharp Cat Stakes at Hollywood Park in the start prior to the Starlet.
The filly by Empire Maker has finished no worse than third in four career starts, with that third-place effort coming against Weemissfrankie in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1) last October at Santa Anita.
Rafael Bejarano will replace injured regular rider Garrett Gomez aboard Charm the Maker in the Santa Ysabel Stakes, and will ride for owner Deborah McAnally and trainer Ron McAnally.
Also entered is stakes winner Lady of Shamrock, who earned her first black-type score in her most recent start, the Blue Norther Stakes on December 30 at Santa Anita. The Scat Daddy filly finished 2011 on a two-race unbeaten streak after breaking her maiden on November 12 on the turf at Churchill Downs. The Santa Ysabel will be Lady of Shamrock’s first main track start.
Lady of Shamrock is owned by Hronis Racing, trained by John Sadler, and will be ridden by Mike Smith.
Joe Nevills is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
