Filly Has Look of a Winner

Approaching racing’s most important day, there are no Breeders’ Cup type runners competing today at Santa Anita. In fact, there aren’t many runners competing at all. Only 57 horses entered the eight races with the largest field numbering eight entrants.

There is one Breeders’ Cup connection. Escape With Me, listed as the 5-2 favorite in today’s sixth race--a six-furlong allowance for California-bred fillies and mares--is by a Breeders’ Cup winner from a Breeders’ Cup runner-up. Arazi, who turned in perhaps the most visually impressive Breeders’ Cup victory in the history of the event when he won the 1991 Juvenile, is Escape With Me’s sire and her dam is Soviet Problem, a multiple-stakes winning mare who lost to Cherokee Run in the 1994 Sprint.

Trained by Carla Gaines for Harris Farms and Don Valpredo, the 3-year-old filly didn’t do her mother or father proud in her first two starts. Sent off at 5-1 in her Hollywood Park debut April 28, she finished last in a field of 12, beaten by nearly 26 lengths. Brought back nearly three months later at Del Mar, she was last again, beaten by 21 lengths. Tried without blinkers in her third start Aug. 24 at Del Mar, she broke with the early leaders, then took charge in the stretch to win by three lengths at nearly 7-1.

If she can run back to that effort today, she wins right back under jockey Mike Smith. Other contenders include Proud Tammie, Our Here Tiz and Memoree.

Race of the day: A New Twist, a talented 2-year-old filly running in the East, will make her second start today at Belmont Park. Trained by John Kimmel for Lucille Conover, the daughter of Storm Cat broke her maiden by nine lengths in 57 3/5 on July 7 at Belmont and she has trained well.

Who’s hot: Trainer Richard Mandella, who was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in August, began the week at Oak Tree having won with seven of 31 starters, putting him second in the standings behind defending champion Bill Spawr.

Who’s not: Jockey Iggy Puglisi was two for 43 through the first four weeks of Oak Tree.

Exotically speaking: A pick four singling Toast Of The Year in the fifth, using Escape With Me and Proud Tammie in the sixth, Bolchina’s Prize and Koslanin in the seventh and Flying Jeb, Copelan’s Eagle, Sarigor and Little O.P. in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/59. Money: previous day/meet total: $29.40/$341.40. Total money bet: $378.