Got Koko Goes After La Canada Sweep

If Got Koko is going to make history in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes today at Santa Anita, she’s going to have to catch Sightseek.

With victories in the La Brea Stakes on Dec. 28 and the El Encino on Jan. 19, Got Koko, a Texas-bred daughter of Signal Tap, is a win away from a sweep of the La Canada series for 4-year-old fillies.

Only two others have won all three races. Mitterand accomplished the feat for trainer Randy Winick in 1985, seven years after Taisez Vous completed the trifecta for owners Vernon and Ann Eachus and trainer Bob Wheeler.

Owned by trainer Bruce Headley and restaurateur Paul Leung, Got Koko won the seven-furlong La Brea with a strong late rally at 17-1, then overcame a wide trip to win the 1 1/16-mile El Encino by 1 1/2 lengths at 3-1.

The beaten favorite in the Santa Monica Handicap in her first race of 2003 a couple of weeks ago, Sightseek will have a significant pace advantage. The Distant View filly, who has won four of six for trainer Bobby Frankel, will break from the rail under new rider Patrick Valenzuela. She will have to be overhauled in the 1 1/8-mile La Canada.

The only others entered are Bella Bellucci, who was second as the 2-1 favorite in the El Encino and, who despite her lofty reputation, has never won anything more than a Grade III, Bare Necessities, who was third in the El Encino, and Revenante, who will be making her first start on the dirt after winning two of three on the grass.

Race of the day: Allamerican Bertie gets back on her preferred surface -- the dirt -- in the $100,000 Sabin Handicap, a Grade III at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16-mile race drew nine other fillies and mares, including Softly, Vespers and Tonight’s Wager. The other graded stakes on the Gulfstream card is the $100,000 Very One Handicap for older fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.

Who’s hot: Wayne Catalano. The trainer won with 15 of his first 55 starters at the Fair Grounds.

Who’s not: Carl Nafzger. The trainer lost with his first 18 starters at Gulfstream Park.

Exotically speaking: A pick four singling Sightseek in the sixth, using Tahitian Rain, Miss Tropics and Jade Vixen in the seventh, Hurricane Smoke, Kamsack and Royal Moro in the eighth and Moon Mullins, Earnestly and Summer Service in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 5/92. Money: Previous day/meet total: $27.40/$557.60. Total money bet: $562.