Pussycat Doll Cuts Back for Grade I La Brea

(from Santa Anita notes)
With an eye on the sky, Bob Baffert plans to run Pussycat Doll in Saturday's La Brea Stakes (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park.

"I just hope it doesn't rain too much," Baffert said. "She's much better going two turns but this is a grade I and you've got to get the black type if you can."

Pussycat Doll, a daughter of 1998 Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet owned and bred by Mike Pegram, won the restricted Skirball at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 13. She has a 3-1-1 record from seven starts, with earnings of $170,823.

A field of 14 is probable for the 33rd running of the La Brea, first leg of the La Canada series: Berbatim, Tyler Baze; Cream Donut Keith, no rider; Great Intentions, Jon Court; Island Escape, Kerwin John; Leave Me Alone, Kent Desormeaux; My Miss Storm Cat, Pat Valenzuela; Mystic Chant, Jose Valdivia Jr.; Pussycat Doll, Garrett Gomez; Resident Alien, Victor Espinoza; Sharp Lisa, Corey Nakatani; Simply Because, David Flores; Three Degrees, Alex Solis; Thrilling Victory, Martin Pedroza; and Trickle of Gold, Jeremy Rose.

If 14 start, it would be largest La Brea field ever, surpassing the record of 12 in 2001 when Affluent was victorious.

Three Degrees breezed three furlongs on turf Wednesday in :36 for Paddy Gallagher.