Fillies Stand Out for Hess
Three days after introducing a promising 3-year-old filly named Spring Meadow, trainer Bob Hess Jr. will send out another 3-year-old filly in today’s $75,000-added Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita.
Spring Meadow, a daughter of Meadowlake out of the Mr. Prospector mare Go For It Lady, dominated maidens in her career debut, winning by four lengths in a rapid 1:084/5 for the six furlongs. She looks to have an extremely bright future with Fog City Stable and it will be interesting to see where she shows up next.
While Spring Meadow still has to prove herself in stakes company, Forty On Line already has for Hess. Five weeks after earning her first win in her first race in this country, the English-bred filly scored a front-running, 20-1 upset in the Miesque, a Grade III, at Hollywood Park.
Owned by a partnership, the chestnut, who had finished fourth of seven in her lone race in England last summer, has demonstrated versatility in the United States.
In beating her stablemate Westmead Empress by a head on Oct. 17, Forty On Line rallied from a couple of lengths off the pace.
Then, in the Miesque, she took advantage of a paceless field to lead every step of the way, eventually winning by a length over New York shipper Riskaverse.
Proven over the Santa Anita and Hollywood Park turf courses, the daughter of Pharly will be opposed today by three of the fillies--La Martina, Red Little Lies and Farda Amiga--who chased her in the Miesque as well as Nunatall, who will be making her first start in this country for trainer Bobby Frankel.
A daughter of Night Shift owned by Ed Gann, Nunatall won one of three overseas, earning her victory by four lengths in her final start in France on Aug. 24. Kent Desormeaux will ride the English-bred, who will be a first-time Lasix user today.
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Race of the day: The second is a 10-furlong turf race that brings together Little Ghazi, who got the money in his California bow for trainer Vladimir Cerin, and Nazirali, an Irish-bred who rallied from last to win his first start in this country for trainer Julio Canani.
Who’s hot: Donald Mills. At last glance, the trainer had won with 33 of 96 starters at Turf Paradise. His lone entrant at the Arizona track today is Vigors Regard, who will face seven other $5,000 claimers in the seventh race.
Who’s not: Forceful Guy. The gelding has not been much of a force in the last couple of years. Since the beginning of 2000, he is 0 for 24. He will run in today’s ninth at Turf Paradise.
Exotically speaking: A pick three using Nazirali, Little Ghazi and Scoring Slew in the second, singling Captain Squire in the third and using H. Moore, Richillini and Boyohboyohboy in the fourth.
Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/27. Money: Previous day/meet total: $9/$178. Total money bet: $174.