Juddmonte’s lightly raced Pleasant , third in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, pursues her first graded stakes win when she races against six other foes in the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (G3) Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park.
Following her close defeat in the Breeders’ Cup, in which the daughter of Munnings was beaten a half-length by victorious Soul of an Angel and a nose by runner-up Society , the Bob Baffert-trained Pleasant is likely to be a decisive favorite in Saturday’s six-furlong dirt race.
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None of her rivals have won or hit the board above the grade 3 level in North America, though stablemate Richi was twice a group 1 winner in Chile before she was imported to the United States. She ran second in the June 2 Desert Stormer Stakes in her lone North American race for owners Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stud Vendaval and Baffert, a five-time Las Flores winner.
Besides the Breeders’ Cup, Pleasant’s only loss in five starts was a close second in an allowance optional claiming race in June 2023 to eventual graded stakes winner Clearly Unhinged .
As a non-stakes winner, Pleasant carries 120 pounds, four less than high-weighted Richi.
The chief threat to the Baffert duo is Repole Stable’s Pushiness , who is 4-1-2 in eight starts and is twice a stakes winner in California-bred company for trainer Michael McCarthy.
Entries: Las Flores S. (G3)
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, January 04, 2025, Race 9
- Grade III
- 6f
- Dirt
- $100,000
- 4 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares
- 3:30 PM (local)
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