Got Koko Goes for Gold

When she won the La Canada Stakes last month, Got Koko became the third filly to sweep the three-race La Canada series, joining Taisez Vous and Mitterand.

If the 4-year-old daughter of Signal Tap wins the $300,000 Santa Margarita Handicap, she will become the second female to add that Grade I to La Brea, El Encino and La Canada victories. Taisez Vous also completed the four-race parlay in 1978.

A loser only once in seven starts over the main tracks at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar, Got Koko must beat a small but quality field in the 1 1/8-mile race if she wants to make more history.

Besides La Canada runner-up Sightseek, the Texas-bred will have to outrun Starrer, who is on a roll for owner George Krikorian and trainer John Shirreffs. Not having to race against 2002 horse of the year Azeri and Summer Colony was all Starrer needed as she has won her last two races -- the Bayakoa at Hollywood Park and the Santa Maria at Santa Anita -- by a combined 9 1/2 lengths.

The other two Santa Margarita entrants are Bella Bellucci, who finished a combined 3 3/4 lengths behind Got Koko in the last two La Canada series races, and Printemps, third in three Grade I races last year.

Race of the day: Badge Of Silver, unbeaten and untested in three races for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Ronny Werner, squares off against Kafwain in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds. The 1 1/16-mile race is the ninth.

Who’s hot: Dean Pederson. The trainer won with 18 of his first 50 runners at Golden Gate Fields.

Who’s not: Joe Orseno. The trainer has lost with his first 39 runners in 2003.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Kolinor and Trampus Too in the second, singling Love That Lion in the third and Bijou Queen, Brilliant Move, Morna’s Girl and Southern Solstice in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 6/149. Money: Previous day/meet total: $25.70/$856.50. Total money bet: $946.