Alphabet Spells Trouble in Millions Distaff

The Harris Farms' grade I winning California homebred Alphabet Kisses heads a field that includes six graded stakes winners in the $500,000 Barretts/CTBA Distaff on the Sunshine Millions card at Santa Anita Saturday.

There were 10 entered in the 1 1/16-mile event for fillies and mares 4 years old and up.

Trainer Marty Jones said Alphabet Kisses had several options followingher 20-1 surprise in the La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Dec. 27, but opted for the Sunshine Millions.

"We could have gone in the Santa Monica (gr. I Sunday) or continued in the La Canada series," the 33-year-old trainer said. "The money was a factor and it's a tough race, but she's doing well and Mr. Harris (owner John Harris) wanted to run here and she's already won a grade I so her value is established."

The 4-year-old daughter of Alphabet Soup has won five of nine starts and earned $326,910.

Among those she hooks up with is Golden Eagle Farm's California homebred Yearly Report, a graded stakes winner from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles for trainer Bob Baffert.

To be ridden by Jerry Bailey, the 4-year-old daughter of General Meeting is making her first start since winning the Stonerside Stakes by 9 1/4 lengths on Oct. 29 at Lone Star Park. Like Alphabet Kisses, Yearly Report has finished worse than third just once in nine starts. She has six victories and a bankroll of $835,900, which tops the field.

Florida-bred Fencelineneighbor, owned by Amerman Racing Stables, registerd a two-length victory in the San Gorgonio Handicap (gr. III) in her last start on Jan. 8 at Santa Anita. She has won two in a row for trainer Mike Machowsky.

Other graded stakes winners in the field include a pair of California breds, two-time grade II winner House of Fortune, trained by Ron McAnally, and grade II winner Dream of Summer, conditioned by Juan Garcia; and Florida-bred grade III victor Friel's For Real, from the barn of Edward Allard.

$500,000 Barretts/CTBA Distaff (Race 6, 5:55 ET), fillies & mares 4 & up, 1 1/16 miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight
1. House of Fortune (CA), 120, Gary L. Stevens
2. Alphabet Kisses (CA), 120, Victor Espinoza
3. Dream of Summer (CA), 122, Mike E. Smith
4. Mini Skirt (CA), 120, Kent J. Desormeaux
5. Yearly Report (CA), 120, Jerry D. Bailey
6. Redoubled Miss (FL), 122, Tyler Baze
7. Scarlett Memories (FL), 120, Martin A. Pedroza
8. Friel's for Real (FL), 122, Abel Castellano, Jr.
9. Sweet Lips (FL), 120, Rene R. Douglas
10. Fencelineneighbor (FL), 122, Luis H. Jauregui