City to City, recent winner of the China Doll Stakes on the Santa Anita turf, heads a highly contentious field of 10 3-year-old fillies signed on for the Providencia Stakes (gr. IIIT) April 3.
The 1 1/8-mile Providencia, on grass, is the last of four graded stakes on the Santa Anita Derby program. It goes as the ninth race on the card at 4:08 p.m. PDT.
City to City, a daughter of City Zip out of the Storm Cat mare Stormbow, has come to life since trainer and part owner Jerry Hollendorfer switched her to the turf in January. Since then, she has won two of three starts, including her 1 1/2-length triumph in the one-mile China Doll on firm turf Feb. 20. She was able to rate just off pacesetter Camille C, then took command in the final furlong to register her first stakes win as an 11-1 outsider.
Joel Rosario, who rode City to City for the first time in the China Doll, has the return engagement. They will break from post two with 117 pounds.
The Providencia also attracted the China Doll's second, third and fourth-place finishers -- in order, Camille C, Irish-bred Andina, and In the Slips, the 13-10 favorite who was steadied in tight quarters while rallying in the homestretch.
Camille C, fourth in last fall's Miesque Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park, made her 2010 debut in the Providencia for trainer Marcelo Polanco. She figures to be setting the pace again in the Providencia, though there are others who may test her this time, including Pulpit Magic in her stakes debut.
Andina, owned by Arnold Zetcher, had won both of her previous starts after transferring to the U.S. late last year. The daughter of Sinspiel gave a game account in the China Doll, finishing just a head behind Camille C after a good stalking trip.
In the Slips, who will be ridden for the first time by Garrett Gomez, won the Blue Norther Stakes on the course and distance prior to her troubled run in the China Doll. Jeff Mullins trains the More Than Ready filly, a two-time winner in Great Britain as well, for Michael House.
California Oaks winner Antares World drew the rail as the 119-pount highweight. She has won four of her past five starts for trainer Steve Specht, all on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields. The daughter of Decarchy gets her first try on turf.
Also switching to the turf for the first time is Cozi Rosie, trained by John Sadler for Jerry and Ann Moss. The Pleasantly Perfect lass was fifth in the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) March 6.
Warren's Jitterbug also exits the Santa Anita Oaks, where she was fourth at odds of 33-1, beaten by three-quarters of a length by the victorious Crisp.
$150,000 Providencia Stakes (gr. IIT, Race 9, 4:08 p.m.), 3-Year-old Fillies, 1 Mile (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Antares World (CA), F T Alvarado, 119, S Specht
2. City to City (KY), J Rosario, 117, J Hollendorfer
3. Warren's Skater (CA), B Blanc, 115, J Gutierrez
4. Cozi Rosie (KY), M E Smith, 117, J W Sadler
5. Andina (IRE), J Talamo, 117, B D Cecil
6. In the Slips (KY), G K Gomez, 117, J Mullins
7. Pulpit Magic (KY), T Baze, 115, C F Dominguez
8. Hot Citizen (KY), A O Solis, 115, E Truman
9. Camille C (CA), M C Baze, 115, M Polanco
10. Warren's Jitterbug (CA), R Bejarano, 115, J Gutierrez
