Race of the Week: Las Virgenes Stakes

The defending 2yo Champion Female Songbird gets her 2016 season started in a prep for the Santa Anita Oaks. Lets take a look at this year's Las Virgenes.

5th Race - Santa Anita Park - Saturday, February 6th, 2016
STAKES. 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $300,000. Las Virgenes S. (Grade 2). FOR FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD. By subscription of $100 each to accompany the nomination or by supplementary nomination of $6,000 at time of entry. $4,500 additional to start, with $300,000 guaranteed. The winner to receive $180,000 PLUS 50 KENTUCKY OAKS POINTS, $60,000 to second, $36,000 to third, $18,000 to fourth and $6,000 to fifth 123 lbs. Non-winners of a Grade I or Grade II stake at One Mile or Over, allowed 3 lbs,: Non-winners of a Grade III stake at One Mile or Over, allowed 5 lbs. Total earnings in non claiming races will be used in determining the preference of horses with equal weights. Starters to be named through the entry box by the closing time of entries. A trophy will be presented to the winning owner. (02:30 PM)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 She's A Warrior 3 F L 118 Prat Flavien Eurton Peter
2 Land Over Sea 3 F L 118 Gutierrez Mario O'Neill Doug F.
3 Street Fancy 3 F L 123 Espinoza Victor D'Amato Philip
4 Jade Princess 3 F L 118 Garcia Martin Baffert Bob
5 Decked Out 3 F L 118 Desormeaux Kent J. Desormeaux J. Keith
6 Songbird 3 F L 123 Smith Mike E. Hollendorfer Jerry
7 Merirosvo 3 F L 118 Van Dyke Drayden Gallagher Patrick

She's A Warrior (Majestic Warrior): Winless in 3 starts, but has never been out of the top 3. Could have first crack at Songbird.

Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road): Has been chasing Songbird in her last three starts, the last was a 7th in the Juvenile Fillies. Lone win was on turf.

Street Fancy (Street Sense): Won the Starlet last time out at Los Alomitos. Could be a dangerous threat to the champ.

Jade Princess (Tapit): Won Allowance/Optional Claimer last time at Santa Anita. Faced Songbird once before which resulted in a 5th place finish in the Chandelier.

Decked Out (Street Boss): 3rd in an Allowance/Optional Claimer. Has gone progressing worse finishing order wise in each stakes race she's been in.

Songbird (Medaglia d' Oro): Has never tasted defeat in her 4 wins including defeating Rachel's Valentina in the Juvenile Fillies. Might be a little bit vurnarble in this race.

Merirosvo (Lonhro (AUS)): Stakes debut after breaking her maiden last time out. That win was her dirt debut as well and takes a step up in class (has gone a mile before in her turf race).

Picks

Win- Street Fancy: Although she hasn't faced the champ yet, really think she could surprise her here.
Place- Songbird: Might need a race... look for her in the SA Oaks to possibly turn the tables.
Show- Merirosvo: While lacking in stakes races, she could be one to watch down the road.