Super Freaky tries to end a four-race losing streak while facing older fillies and mares for the first time when she returns to her favorite turf course at Santa Anita for the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Handicap (gr. IIIT) Sept. 26, the opening day of the Oak Tree meeting.
Third in the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) in her last start, Super Freaky is one of 14 entered for the Maddy, which is contested at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. She drew the rail.
All three of Super Freaky's victories have come on the Santa Anita turf, her last in the one-mile Providencia (gr. IIIT) in April. In two starts on the hillside, she has a win in the La Habra Stakes and a second-place finish in an allowance race.
The 3-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Smart Strike is reunited with regular pilot Jon Court, who was aboard for both of the victories. Victor Espinoza had the mount at Del Mar.
“She’s won on the course and Jon knows her well,” said trainer Doug O’Neill. “She’s training well, so we’re going to give it a shot.”
Super Freaky had a one-length lead in the stretch run of the Del Mar Oaks Aug. 18 but tired in the final furlong to finish 6 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Rutherienne.
O'Neill, who won the Maddy last year with Cambiocorsa, conditions the dark bay for Suarez and Venneri racing stables.
The grade I winner Dancing Edie was assigned top weight of 122 for the Maddy. Trained by Craig Dollase, the 5-year-old Moscow Ballet mare has not won in five tries since taking the John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT) in July 2006. After an absence of more than seven months, she has been blanked in three starts this season, but is coming off a second-place showing behind Precious Kitten in this year's Mabee.
The British-bred Attima, trained by Julio Canani, returns to action after a seven-month layoff and carries 121 pounds. The 4-year-old filly was a dual grade II winner in 2006. She has not been out since finishing third, beaten one length, in the one-mile Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Santa Anita lawn in February. The daughter of Zafonic won the Wishing Well down the hillside three weeks prior to that in her only try at the distance.
Fantastic Spring, making her stakes debut, won a couple of turf sprints against allowance foes on the Del Mar grass in August for trainer Peter Miller. The 4-year-old also broke her maiden on the hillside by more than four lengths in April.
Itsawonderfullife was a supplemental entry for trainer Patrick Biancone at a cost of $2,000. With 14 starters, it would be the largest Maddy field since Jeanne Jones won in 1988.
$100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Handicap (gr. IIIT, Race 8, 4:30 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, About 6 1/2 Furlongs (Turf)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Super Freaky (FL), 115, Jon K. Court
2. Itsawonderfullife (IRE), 109, Alonso Quinonez
3. Runway Rosie (KY), 111, Michael C. Baze
4. Dancing Edie (CA), 122, Corey S. Nakatani
5. Lady Gamer (CA), 115, David R. Flores
6. Fantastic Spring (KY), 115, Joseph Talamo
7. Strong Faith (KY), 115, Brice Blanc
8. Sophie's Trophy (CA), 113, Fernando Jara
9. Attima (GB), 121, Victor Espinoza
10. Stylish Wildcat (KY), 117, Martin Garcia
11. Macadamia (KY), 111, Tyler Baze
12. Spenditallbaby (CA), 113, Clinton L. Potts
13. True and True (FL), 114, Martin A. Pedroza
14. Clinet (IRE), 116, Alex O. Solis
Super Freaky takes on her elders in the Senator Ken Maddy Handicap.
