The Las Cienegas Stakes is a renowned Grade III race for fillies and mares aged four years old and upward, set over a distance of about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita Park. Here’s a comprehensive look at the horses, trainers, breeders, and the key details for this thrilling event.
Race Details
- Purse: $100,000
- Entry Fee: $750 to enter and an additional $750 to start
- Supplementary Nominations: $2,000 eligibility
- Weights:
- 124 lbs for all entrants
- Allowances for non-winners of a Graded Stakes or Sweepstakes
- Purse Distribution: $60,000 to the winner, $20,000 to second, $12,000 to third, $6,000 to fourth, and $2,000 to fifth
Contenders
| P# | Horse | A/S | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Just Nails | 6/M | E. Maldonado | 120 | Douglas F. O’Neill | 2/1 |
| 2 | Nadette | 6/M | J. Hernandez | 124 | Neil D. Drysdale | 10/1 |
| 3 | Anywho | 5/M | H. I. Berrios | 120 | John W. Sadler | 15/1 |
| 4 | Laulne | 4/F | Antonio Fresu | 124 | Philip D’Amato | 12/1 |
| 5 | Ma Rae’s Girl | 4/F | Kazushi Kimura | 120 | Douglas F. O’Neill | 30/1 |
| 6 | Toupie | 4/F | Flavien Prat | 122 | Graham Motion | 8/5 |
| 7 | Hamwood Flier | 7/M | Mike E. Smith | 122 | George Papaprodromou | 8/1 |
| 8 | Vitalera | 6/M | Tyler Baze | 120 | Marcelo Polanco | 20/1 |
| 9 | Miss Lizzy | 5/M | Umberto Rispoli | 122 | Douglas F. O’Neill | 6/1 |
Horse Profiles
1. Just Nails (KY):
- Trainer: Douglas F. O’Neill
- Breeder: Catherine Hudson, Aaron Mulholland, and Kildare Stud
- Pedigree: Twirling Candy – Fly Me to Dubai, by Into Mischief
Just Nails seeks her first breakthrough stakes win under trainer Douglas O’Neill. She has shown consistency, placing in the top three in many of her recent starts.
2. Nadette (FR):
- Trainer: Neil D. Drysdale
- Breeder: Herve Dardenne
- Pedigree: Outstrip (GB) – Ciboulette (IRE), by Pivotal (GB)
Nadette is a proven contender, with good performances on turf. Trainer Neil Drysdale aims to leverage her racing experience for a top finish.
3. Anywho (KY):
- Trainer: John W. Sadler
- Breeder: Brookfield Stud
- Pedigree: Bolt d’Oro – Fancy and Flashy, by Zensational
Anywho has the potential to deliver a surprising performance with the guidance of trainer John Sadler.
4. Laulne (FR):
- Trainer: Philip D’Amato
- Breeder: FRANKLIN FINANCE S.A.
- Pedigree: Starspangledbanner (AUS) – Lady Francesca (GB), by Montjeu (IRE)
Laulne, a proven runner on the turf, returns to racing after an eight-month layoff. Trainer Philip D’Amato aims to bring out her best for this stakes event.
5. Ma Rae’s Girl (KY):
- Trainer: Douglas F. O’Neill
- Breeder: Crosshaven Bloodstock
- Pedigree: Mendelssohn – Isla, by Unbridled’s Song
Trainer Douglas O’Neill enters Ma Rae’s Girl, hoping to achieve a notable performance in this field of seasoned horses.
6. Toupie (KY):
- Trainer: Graham Motion
- Breeder: Wertheimer & Frere
- Pedigree: Uncle Mo – Amertume, by Tapit
Toupie, based on the East Coast and trained by Graham Motion, returns to the site of her Unzip Me Stakes victory. She is among the favorites and aims for another impressive performance.
7. Hamwood Flier (IRE):
- Trainer: George Papaprodromou
- Breeder: F. Dunne
- Pedigree: Kodiac (GB) – Fonda (GB), by Quiet American
Hamwood Flier, trained by George Papaprodromou, is looking to capitalize on his experience and strong stints in previous races.
8. Vitalera (CHI):
- Trainer: Marcelo Polanco
- Breeder: Haras Matriarca
- Pedigree: Into Mischief – Viarose (CHI), by Della Francesca
Vitalera is poised to make an impact under the expertise of trainer Marcelo Polanco.
9. Miss Lizzy (KY):
- Trainer: Douglas F. O’Neill
- Breeder: Glenn Sorgenstein
- Pedigree: Classic Empire – Caradini, by Bernardini:
Miss Lizzy has performed well on the hillside course and is back for another shot at success. Trainer O’Neill expects her to be a strong contender.
Trainer Insights
- Douglas F. O’Neill: Known for his expertise in preparing fillies for stakes races, O’Neill has three horses in this race.
- Graham Motion: A seasoned trainer with a keen eye for stakes potentials, bringing Toupie back to California.
- Philip D’Amato: Experienced in handling turf contenders, D’Amato expects Laulne to perform impressively after a layoff.
Breeding Details
- Just Nails: Bred by Catherine Hudson, Aaron Mulholland, and Kildare Stud.
- Nadette: Bred by Herve Dardenne.
- Anywho: Bred by Brookfield Stud.
- Laulne: Bred by FRANKLIN FINANCE S.A.
- Ma Rae’s Girl: Bred by Crosshaven Bloodstock.
- Toupie: Bred by Wertheimer & Frere.
- Hamwood Flier: Bred by F. Dunne.
- Vitalera: Bred by Haras Matriarca.
- Miss Lizzy: Bred by Glenn Sorgenstein.
