Gary Barber and Sequel Racing's Haveyougoneaway has proven her talent and mettle on the New York circuit this season, but after a 3,000-mile trip west she'll encounter familiar rivals and some longshots from the Left Coast Nov. 5 in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I).
Her last two victories have been nothing if not hard-earned. The Congrats mare waded into graded stakes waters for the first time during her 5-year-old year and has not disappointed for trainer Tom Morley.
In her first graded try, the New York-bred edged Paulassilverlining by a neck in the Honorable Miss Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course, and then scored by a half-length ahead of By the Moon in the Ballerina (gr. I) at Saratoga, her first start at seven furlongs.
BALAN: Haveyougoneaway Surges to Ballerina Win
Both of those runner-ups have also made the trip to Santa Anita Park for the seven-furlong Filly & Mare Sprint, along with Ballerina favorite and third-place finisher Carina Mia, who opted for the Filly & Mare Sprint instead of taking on undefeated Songbird—among others—for the third time in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Before the Ballerina third, Carina Mia took seven-panel Eight Belles (gr. II) and the one-turn-mile Acorn (gr. I). Clear seconds to Songbird in the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) and Cotillion (gr. I) bookended the Ballerina for the Malibu Moon filly.
BALAN: Carina Mia Closes to Win Acorn
Irish Jasper is another filly entering on a two-race win streak. Her 1 3/4-length score in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland Oct. 8 followed a victory by the same margin Aug. 12 at Saratoga in allowance company.
Grupo Seven C Stable's Paola Queen has thrived at the seven-furlong distance, with two wins and a second in three starts at the trek, including the Aug. 6 Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.
ANGST: Paola Queen Shocks Rivals in Test Stakes
Lost in the shuffle a bit is defending Filly & Mare winner Wavell Avenue. Since her closing victory at Keeneland last year, the 5-year-old Harlington mare has won just once in six starts, and has finished well behind many of the Filly & Mare contenders in recent races. She came in third behind Paulassilverlining last time out in the Gallant Bloom (gr. II), finished sixth in the Ballerina, and checked in second behind By the Moon in the Bed o' Roses (gr. II).
The West Coast contingent isn't as accomplished as the East Coast invaders, but brings the advantage of familiarity with the conditions at Santa Anita and how to handle the main track.
Stonestreet Stables' Tara's Tango has been the most versatile of the group, with graded wins from 6 1/2 furlongs (the Aug. 17 Rancho Bernardo, gr. III) to 1 1/8 miles (the March 19 Santa Margarita, gr. I) for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Kaleem Shah's Enchanting Lady has the most wins at Santa Anita (three), but has yet to break through for a graded win in seven tries. Finest City, on the other hand, is winless in five starts at the Arcadia racetrack, but won the April 23 Great Lady M. (gr. III) at Los Alamitos Race Course. Last-out L.A. Woman (gr. III) winner Gloryzapper rounds out the West Coast entries.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, November 05, 2016, Race 10Entries: Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Paola Queen (KY) Javier Castellano 122 Gustavo Delgado 20/1 2 2Haveyougoneaway (NY) John R. Velazquez 124 Thomas Morley 3/1 3 3Tara's Tango (KY) Rafael Bejarano 124 Jerry Hollendorfer 8/1 4 4Gomo (KY) Mario Gutierrez 122 Doug F. O'Neill 20/1 5 5Wonder Gal (NY) Kendrick Carmouche 124 Leah Gyarmati 30/1 6 6By the Moon (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 124 Michelle Nevin 8/1 7 7Gloryzapper (KY) Stewart Elliott 124 Philip D'Amato 15/1 8 8Carina Mia (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 122 William I. Mott 7/2 9 9Paulassilverlining (KY) Joseph Talamo 124 Michelle Nevin 10/1 10 10Wavell Avenue (ON) Joel Rosario 124 Chad C. Brown 6/1 11 11Irish Jasper (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Chad C. Brown 10/1 12 12Finest City (PA) Mike E. Smith 124 Ian Kruljac 12/1 13 13Spelling Again (PA) Luis Saez 124 Brad H. Cox 20/1
