Ten 3-year-old fillies are set to compete in Sunday's $100,000 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park while aiming for an eventual invitation to the $750,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) on July 3.
At one mile on turf, the Senorita appears to be a deeply contentious event with favoritism possibly falling to trainer Julio Canani's Shining Energy, a French-import who won her first two starts in the U.S. including the La Habra Stakes. She endured a troubled trip when favored in the Providencia (gr. IIIT) on April 9 at Santa Anita.
"She was rushed in the Providencia," Canani said of the fifth-place finish. "If she runs her race on Sunday, she will be tough."
Shining Energy, a Kentucky-bred daughter of
Rahy, will be reunited with jockey Rene Douglas, aboard for her two previous victories over Santa Anita's hillside turf course.
French-bred Royal Copenhagen has finished second in a pair of grade III turf events in this country including the Providencia and Miesque (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park last November. She also was beaten by a head when second in a group III in France last summer. Her earnings of $106,557 rank second to the $117,842 earned by Shining Energy among Senorita entrants.
Private Banking, who has joined the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally, was victorious in both her starts in France. Thatswhatimean, a $375,000 yearling purchase by B. Wayne Hughes, took the China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita, a one-mile turf event in March. Dramatic was an impressive maiden winner for trainer John Shirreffs on April 6 at the Senorita distance on Santa Anita's grass.
Ticker Tape, second in a narrow setback when favored in last year's Senorita Stakes, returned to record a 12-1 upset in the third running of the American Oaks.
$100,000-added Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT), 3-year-old fillies, 1 mile (turf)PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight
1. Mashina, David Flores, 115
2. Thatswhatimean, Jon Court, 117
3. Shining Energy, Douglas, 115
4. Royal Copenhagen, Garrett Gomez, 115
5. Dramatic, Patrick Valenzuela, 117
6. Royal Wave, Jose Valdivia, Jr., 115
7. Three Degrees, Alex Solis, 115
8. Private Banking, Tyler Baze, 115
9. Virden, Omar Figueroa, 119
10. Unusual Spring, Corey Nakatani, 119
