Dedication Heads Field

Those who liked Dedication at 23-1 odds in the Matriarch on Nov. 30 will have to settle for a much shorter price in today’s $100,000 Monrovia Handicap at Santa Anita.

In her California debut for trainer Christophe Clement, Dedication -- a 4-year-old Highest Honor filly -- was third in the Matriarch, a neck behind winner Heat Haze. A half-length behind her in fourth place was Island Fashion, who was a six-length winner in the La Brea Stakes on Saturday.

Owned by Mrs. Alec Head, the French-bred has won five of 15 and is proven sprinting, so the Monrovia, a Grade III at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf, should suit her fine. She won a Group I in her native country as a 3-year-old, then won an allowance race at six furlongs at Belmont Park this fall.

Trainer Richard Mandella is expected to start both Polygreen and Spring Star, who will race coupled due to common ownership (Wertheimer Farm).

A winner twice in five starts since coming to the United States last year, Spring Star will be racing for the first time since she won the Palomar Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Sept. 7 at Del Mar.

Polygreen, a 4-year-old daughter of Green Tune, hasn’t started since finishing last in the Royal Heroine at Hollywood Park on July 5.

Race of the day: Greek Sun, who broke his maiden in his debut over the Hollywood Park turf course on Nov. 15, is among eight 2-year-olds scheduled to go a mile on the grass in today’s $75,000 Hill Rise Stakes at Santa Anita. The field also includes French import Gwaihir, Vikings Bay, Saltire, Devoted Lover, Lindero, Atten Hut and Pioneerman. Gwaihir and Atten Hut are the only members of the cast with two victories over turf.

One for the road: Natural Style is dropped in class and cut back in distance today and both changes should serve him well in today’s eighth race at Golden Gate Fields. David Lopez will ride the veteran in the six-furlong contest for $12,500 claimers.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Manosteel in the fourth, Dedication in the fifth and Hippocrates, Plenty Of Heat, Erewhon, Wimbledon and Spellbinder in the sixth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/5. Money: Previous day/meet total: $9.60/$26.60. Total money bet: $36.