Las Vegas, NV – Del Mar in the great state of California will be the scene of the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap this Saturday, November 22. A purse of $100,000 will be on the line for fillies and mares three years old and upward willing to go 1 3/8 miles on Del Mar’s turf track.
A field of 11 plus two Alternate Entries have been confirmed for the Red Carpet Handicap – race 8 on Del Mar’s Saturday card. Post time is 4:00 PM. Here is a glance into the past performances of all 13 possible combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.
Appealing Cat – H. Graham Motion trained filly raced for the first time in nearly a year May 30 finishing fourth in the minor Lyphard Stakes at Penn National and has book OK in three starts since – a third last time out in the minor Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes October 19 followed a nice win in the minor Mrs. Penny Stakes at Parx in September and a fifth in the Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial also at Parx in July. She did have a third in the Grade 3 Gallorette Handicap in May, 2013 and nice second in the Grade 3 Endeavor Stakes February 2, 2013 so we know that she can be successful against top competition. Appealing Cat looks for her first graded stakes win Saturday in her first start in California when she leaves from the rail as the 121 pound highweight land likely favorite with Rafael Bejarano aboard.
Winning Rhythm – has nine career starts with three wins, two seconds and two third place finishes for trainer Patrick Gallagher but makes her stakes debut Monday. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Santa Anita October 9 after another Allowance Optional Claiming score July 26, a DNF, a third and a second in a trio of Allowance Optional Claiming races at Santa Anita. She has looked OK against lesser competition, has won both starts on Del Mar turf but takes her huge step up in competition with Alex Solis in the irons from gate 2.
Hijra – Irish bred Jerry Hollendorfer trained filly has eight career starts and has placed in seven – two wins, a second and four third place finishes. She makes her stakes debut Saturday after a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming October 9, an Allowance Optional Claiming score in May and a third in an Allowance in April. She steps up in competition in decent for with Elvis Trujillo guiding her from post 3.
Lady Pimpernel – four time winner British bred Carla Gaines trainee has four starts this year with two wins and a third place finish. She makes her North American debut Saturday off consecutive wins – the last being a stakes at 20-1 odds at Salisbury in August. Victor Espinoza gets the call from post 9 as Lady Pimpernel looks for her third straight win overall and her first on North American soil.
Bee Brave – British bred filly made her stakes debut July 27 and finished fifth in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita off an Allowance score on this track August 24 and a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming August 3. Last time out was a sixth in the restricted Kathryn Crosby Stakes on this track November 7. She has three wins, a second and a third place finish in 10 career starts and hasn’t had much success in stakes company. Martin Garcia gets the call from post 6.
Scooter Bird – John Sadler trained filly has seven starts this year with three wins and three third place finishes. She makes her graded stakes debut Saturday having won three of her last four starts – all Allowance races the last four months – the last coming by an impressive 4 3/4 lengths October 23. The other result over that span was a third in her only stakes start – the restricted Tranquility Stakes on this track August 31. She looks ready for her step up and will have Corey Nakatani aboard from post 11.
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Lady of Gold – H Graham Motion trainee is coming off a good second in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes at Woodbine November 1 – her graded stakes debut. Before that was a seventh in the minor Lady Baltimore Stakes, a second and a third respectively in a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races at Saratoga this past summer. Kent Desormeaux has been tabbed to ride as Lady of Gold looks to build on some momentum from gate 10.
Three Hearts – has 13 career starts for trainer Neil Drysdale with two wins, three seconds and three third place finishes. She has just three starts this year – consecutive fourths in Allowance Optional Claiming races ahead of this weekend followed a third in a similar race at Belmont Park in July. She ended her 2013 campaign with a close third in the Grade 3 Virginia Oaks in July as well. Three Hearts has been OK inn her career and will try for a breakthrough performance Saturday with Joe Talamo aboard from gate 8.
Luscious Lonna – is coming off a nice win in the minor Miss America Stakes at Golden Gate October 18 after a third in an Allowance on that same track in September and a fifth in the minor California Governor’s Cup in July. She makes her graded stakes debut Saturday after 21 career starts yielded nine wins, five seconds and three third place finishes. William Antongeorgi III rides from post 5.
Modernstone – intriguing European import has raced predominantly on synthetic surfaces in England. She has failed to place in five North American starts for trainer Bill Mott – consecutive sevenths including last time out in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes followed a tenth in the Robert G. Dick Memorial in July, a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming in June and a sixth in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes in May. She has three wins, four seconds and a third place finish in 15 career starts and looks to finally make some noise on North American soil. Martin Pedroza will be in the irons from post 7.
Left a Message – Thomas Proctor trained mare has failed to place in five starts this year and has three wins, four seconds and a third place finish in 18 career starts. She looks for her first win since the minor Flaming Page Stakes at Woodbine in August, 2013 when she leaves from post 4 with Gary Stevens in the irons.
Macaabra – Alternate Entry Irish bred filly has failed to place in her last four starts – her only graded stakes start over that span was a sixth in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes in April. She has 15 career starts with four wins, a second and a third place finish and has just one win in five starts this year.
Soresca – Alternate Entry Irish bred filly hasn’t placed in four starts this year and has three wins, two seconds and a third place finish in 12 career starts. She hasn’t finished better than seventh in four North American starts – not a whole lot will be expected if she does indeed start Saturday.
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