Elloluv Won't See Composure in Santa Ynez

(from track report)
Elloluv won't be overlooked in the wagering when she runs in Monday's $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

The Kentucky-bred daughter of 1992 2-year-old champion Gilded Time was 30-1 when she upset Composure to win the $356,500 Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) on Dec. 14 for owner J. Paul Reddam, who paid $120,00 for Elloluv at the Keeneland 2-year-old April sale.

With Composure pointing to the Feb. 9 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) at one mile, Elloluv shouldn't have any heavyweights to overcome in the Santa Ynez, which is the Martin Luther King Day headliner.

"She's doing really well," trainer Craig Dollase said of the bay filly who had only a miden win to show from her two starts prior to the Starlet. "She had a real good work at Hollywood (six furlongs in 1:12.80 last Sunday). I'll probably breeze her Friday at Santa Anita."

"We're coming into the race really well," Dollase said. "She's improving, and I'm looking forward to running her down the road. She surprised me (beating Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Composure), but like I've said before, she's never disappointed me. She's always trained liked a good horse. I'm excited."

In other Santa Ynez developments: Puxa Saco, winner of four of her five starts including the Hollywood Moccasin and the Anoakia Stakes, worked five furlongs Wednesday in 1:00.60, breezing, under jockey Mike Smith.

"She went very nice," trainer Jenine Sahadi said of the Kentucky-bred daughter of Dehere. "She got headed a little bit at the quarter pole. She had a target and she likes to fight. Mike said she went terrific."

Probable for the Santa Ynez Stakes: Elloluv, Pat Valenzuela;
Himalayan, Corey Nakatani; No Love Song, Martin Pedroza; Puxa Saco, Mike Smith; and Watching You, Kent Desormeaux.