La Brea Stakes Gets La Canada Series Started

It won’t attract nearly as much attention as Friday’s Malibu Stakes, but the filly counterpart to the Strub Series kicks off today at Santa Anita.

The seven-furlong La Brea Stakes is the first of the La Canada Series, which will include the El Encino stakes on Jan. 18 and the La Canada Stakes on Feb. 8.

Sharp Cat, the reigning queen of the local 3-year-old--about to turn 4--filly division, probably won’t be seen until the 1 1/8-mile La Canada. Now trained by Wally Dollase, who recently signed as the private trainer for Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corp., the daughter of Storm Cat suffered a minor ankle injury while winning the first walkover in California history in the Bayakoa Handicap on Dec. 7.

“She’s been doing well,” Dollase said. “We should be able to get her ready for the La Canada. The ankle seems to be all right.”

Trainer Ron Ellis will be trying to win the La Brea for the second time in three years when he sends out I Ain’t Bluffing, the 5-2 morning line choice, against 10 others. Ellis won the Grade I with Exotic Wood in 1995.

Owned by Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel, I Ain’t Bluffing will be looking for her third consecutive victory. But she won the last two on turf, the Possibly Perfect during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita, then the Matiara Handicap at Hollywood Park a month later.

A winner of five of eight overall, the daughter of Pine Bluff won the Railbird at Hollywood Park the only other time she raced seven furlongs. She will be ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye. She worked six furlongs in 1:11 1/5 earlier this month in Inglewood.

No worse than third in five starts, Corona Lake is the 3-1 second choice in what will be her graded stakes debut. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss and trained by Richard Mandella, Corona Lake was second in the Matiara and picked up the most impressive of her three victories at the La Brea distance. Gary Stevens will be aboard.

Alzora, who has won two of her last three, will be trying to give jockey Chris McCarron and trainer Ron McAnally their second stakes win of the two-day old Santa Anita meeting. They teamed Friday to win the $71,680 Blue Norther Stakes with heavily favored Superlative, who had to survive a stewards’ inquiry before her third victory in five starts was official.

Alzora is unbeaten in two starts at Santa Anita and in the last 10 days has worked six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 and five furlongs in 59 1/5.

Rounding out the field, in post position order, are Starry Ice, Garrett Gomez riding; Minister’s Melody, Corey Nakatani; Bali Beauty, Victor Espinoza; Fun In Excess, David Flores; Lavender, Kent Desormeaux; Praviana, Alex Solis; Tomorrows Sunshine, Brice Blanc, and Fair Margarita, Corey Black.

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Mandella’s success with South American imports has been well chronicled and the trainer hopes he has another star in Alvo Certo, who makes his U.S. debut in the $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Sunday.

Bred in Brazil, the 4-year-old son of Tsunami Slew won seven of 11 in his native land and lost only twice in seven races on the grass. Black will ride.

Mandella will also be represented by Talloires, who missed the Hollywood Turf Cup earlier this month.

Also entered in the Grade II are Storm Trooper, Da Bull, Martiniquais, Puissant, Prize Giving, Bienvenido and Slightly Speedy.

Horse Racing Notes

Today’s card also features the $84,000 Ack Ack Handicap. Heading the field of seven is Megan’s Interco, the 7-5 favorite. . . . The 46th time was the charm for Cinoroto, a 5-year-old Encino gelding who finally broke his maiden in an $8,500 claimer Friday at Golden Gate Fields. The horse he ran down in the final yards of the six-furlong race was Mostly Mozart, who is now 0 for 31.