A.P. Adventure After Elusive Win in La Canada

A game second in last month's El Encino Stakes (gr. II), grade I winner A.P. Adventure tries to put an end to a year-long victory drought in Saturday's $200,000 La Canada Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park.

A tiny field of five has been entered for the 1 1/8-mile La Canada, the finale in the three-race Santa Anita series for fillies and mares foaled in 2001.

A.P. Adventure, the 4-year-old daughter of A.P. Indy now trained by Wally Dollase, closed determinedly as the odds-on choice but came up a head short to Girl Warrior in the El Encino Jan. 16. She was forced to deal with a wide run around the far turn in the 1 1/16-mile event. Girl Warrior will pass the La Canada.

Rene Douglas once again will be aboard the filly, who has not won since taking the La Virgenes (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies a year ago.

The major threat comes from the Bobby Frankel-trained Sweet Lips, who looked superb while registering a late-running score in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff in her last race Jan. 29. Alex Solis takes over aboard the 4-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Kris S., after Douglas guided her in the Distaff.

Gary and Mary West Stables' Sweet Lips has won six of nine starts and earned $425,138.

Tarlow, who set the pace in the El Encino before finishing third, lines up once again.

$200,000 La Canada Stakes, 4-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Tarlow (KY), 114, Patrick A. Valenzuela
2. A. P. Adventure (KY), 118, Rene R. Douglas
3. Sweet Lips (FL), 121, Alex O. Solis
4. Iflookscouldkill (FL), 114, Victor Espinoza
5. Amorama (FR), 118, Corey S. Nakatani