Yearly Report Seeks First Grade I Victory

One thing Yearly Report hasn’t done in a career that includes six victories in nine starts is capture a Grade I.

The 3-year-old daughter of General Meeting could take care of that hole on her resume with a victory in the $250,000 La Brea Stakes today at Santa Anita. Jerry Bailey will ride the California-bred for trainer Bob Baffert.

The first leg of the three-race La Canada series, the seven-furlong La Brea attracted 10 others, including New York shipper Bending Strings and Del Mar Oaks winner Amorama who will be making her first start on the main track. The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $177,783.

Owned by John Gunther and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Bending Strings has won five of 15 and comes off a narrow loss to Daydreaming in the Top Flight Handicap on Nov. 26 at Aqueduct. Victor Espinoza will ride the daughter of American Chance, who was a distant fourth behind Yearly Report in the Santa Ynez on Jan. 19 in her only other start at Santa Anita.

From the inside out, the La Brea field is completed by Costume Designer, Sweet Lips, Elusive Diva, who hasn’t raced since she finished sixth of 12 in the Test Stakes on July 31 at Saratoga, Nyramba, Mea Domina, Susan’s Angel, Alphabet Kisses and Salty Romance.

Race of the day: Weigelia, who has won half of his 10 starts at Calder, will try to rebound from a subpar try in the Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap on Dec. 18 when he takes on seven other sprinters in the $40,000 Minton. John Velazquez will be aboard the 3-year-old Safety’s Mark colt for owner Joe Balsamo and trainer Manny Azpurua in the five-furlong race.

One for the road: Razor Barb makes her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and arrives from Hastings Park on a roll. The 4-year-old filly has won two in a row and races in today’s second at Golden Gate Fields. Russell Baze will ride in the $30,000 allowance at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Buckland Manor in the sixth, Home Ice, Yodeladytoo and Shout To The North in the seventh, Yearly Report and Bending Strings in the eighth and the Hedge Your Bet entry and Wall Street Wally in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/2. Money: Previous day/meet total: $14.40/$14.40. Total money bet: $18.