Luvah Girl, front-running winner of the seven-furlong, Group II Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket in her final race in England in October, will be part of a full field of 14 for her United States debut Friday in the $100,000 La Habra Stakes at Santa Anita.
The ungraded La Habra is for 3-year-old fillies going about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course.
Luvah Girl, now running for trainer Jenine Sahadi and owner Gary Barber and Team Valor Syndicate, must overcome the size of the field, but she'll face only one other stakes winner, Mac Melody, an Italian listed stakes winner who has had four unsuccessful starts in the U.S.
Himalayan, third behind Elloluv in the Santa Ynez (gr. II) on the dirt Jan. 20, figures to be among the early leaders.
Point Clear, another who figures to be on the lead, has won her last two starts, a maiden and an optional claimer, but will be making her turf debut.
Favola, last in the Las Virgenes (gr. I) on dirt in her first U.S. start Feb. 9, returns to the grass, where she won two of seven starts in lower level races in England.
Bond Midnight and Katdogawn, also from England last fall, start as an entry for James Cassidy.
$100,000 La Habra Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, about 6 1/2 furlongs on turfPP Horse, Weight, Jockey
1 Heart Ofa Champion (KY), 116, Kent J. Desormeaux
2 Himalayan (KY), 116, Corey S. Nakatani
3 Mac Melody (IRE), 116, Alex O. Solis
4 Luvah Girl (GB), 116, Mike E. Smith
5 No Kings (KY), 114, Patrick Angel Valenzuela
6 Vanilla Sky (IRE), 114, Jose Valdivia, Jr.
7 Oneexcessivenite (CA), 118, Laffit A. Pincay, Jr.
8 Katdogawn (GB), 114, Victor Espinoza
9 Point Clear (KY), 116, David Romero Flores
10 Bond Midnight (IRE), 114, Martin A. Pedroza
11 Honest Answer (KY), 114, Joseph J. Steiner
12 Just Too Too (CA), 114, Gary L. Stevens
13 Favola (GB), 114, Julie A. Krone
14 Cherokee's Disco (KY), 114, Tyler Baze
