(from Del Mar notes)
Impressive stakes winners Carlsbad and Evita Argentina head a field of nine fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) on Sept.4 at Del Mar.
Evita Argentina, trained by sizzling John Sadler for Halo Farms or Three Sisters Thoroughbreds, is the 118-pound high weight in the Polytrack event for fillies and mares. Joel Rosario has the mount.
Carlsbad, trained by Jeff Mullins for owner Michael House, won the Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) two races back, but faltered in Del Mar's San Clemente Stakes (gr. II) to finish fifth. That was the first time in eight starts she has been off the board. Her record shows six wins and a second in her eight lifetime starts.
Evita Argentina, who worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 Aug. 30, has posted five victories in 10 lifetime starts, including a win in the 2008 Sorrento Stakes (gr. III) at Del Mar and the 2009 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 11 against males at Santa Anita. She captured the july 18 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park.
Ashley's Kitty, who was timed in :47 2/5 for a half-mile in a drill Aug. 30, comes to the race from a Del Mar allowance victory Aug. 16. Golden Doc A was second to Ashley's Kitty, while Lady Lumberjack was runner-up in the A Gleam. Moon de French, from the Bob Baffert barn, was second in an Aug. 2 Del Mar allowance.
She's Cheeky, So Long Sonoma , and Stolen Heart complete the field.
$200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III, Race 8, 6:30 p.m. PDT), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 6 1/2 Furlongs (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Golden Doc A (CA), A Quinonez, 116, B Abrams
2. Evita Argentina (KY), J Rosario, 118, J W Sadler
3. Stolen Heart (KY), C S Nakatani, 113, E G Harty
4. Lady Lumberjack (KY), R Bejarano, 112, J C Canani
5. Moon de French (FL), G K Gomez, 113, B Baffert
6. Ashley's Kitty (KY), J Talamo, 117, T H West
7. So Long Sonoma (KY), M E Smith, 115, B Headley
8. Carlsbad (AZ), T Baze, 115, J Mullins
9. She's Cheeky (KY), A O Solis, 113, P Eurton