By Alan Carasso
Never out of the trifecta in five starts on the grass, Stays in Vegas (City Zip) seeks to snap a mini two-race losing streak in what reads as a competitive renewal of the GI Del Mar Oaks at the seaside oval.
A multiple stakes winner on both dirt and turf and runner-up in the GI Starlet S. in 2015, the chestnut filly resumed with a game head success in the GIII Senorita S. over the Santa Anita turf course May 7. Clearly in front into the final furlong of the GII Honeymoon S. June 19, Stays in Vegas was run down on the money to finish third and she exits a third in this track's GII San Clemente H. July 23 in which she raced further back in the field than is her custom, was trapped out deep for a time and rallied decently in the lane to finish 4 1/2 lengths adrift of the victorious Mokat (Uncle Mo). Look for Flavien Prat to have her closer in the run Saturday afternoon.
A longshot second to Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Santa Anita Oaks, Mokat was 13th behind 'TDN Rising Star' Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss) in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 7 and got some time off. A 7-1 chance in the San Clemente, she was able to carve out a rail-skimming trip, tipped out at the head of the lane and powered home to best perfect-trip Lady Valeur (Ire) (Multiplex {GB}) by 3 3/4 lengths.
“I think she's just a better horse overall on the grass,” trainer Richard Baltas said Thursday morning. “She moves better, she's got a better stride on the turf. I really think that's what she had wanted all along. We ran in the Santa Anita Oaks and got second to Songbird and ran in the Kentucky Oaks, but I really think this is her calling.”
Barleysugar (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}) posted a record of 1-3-1 in six English starts for Sir Michael Stoute, including a runner-up effort to subsequent Sandringham H. heroine Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) over the Chelmsford Park all-weather June 1. Disregarded at 10-1 in her stateside debut in the Sandy Blue H. over track and trip July 17, she saved all the ground and powered away late to best the dead-heating Mrs. Norris (Bernardini) and Cheekaboo (Unusual Heat) by a sound 2 3/4 lengths.
Trainer Vicki Oliver sent out Personal Diary (City Zip) to a 9-1 upset in this race in 2014 and saddles Mines and Magic (Mineshaft) for her turf debut. Most recently a good third in the GII Indiana Oaks, her dam, Magical Theater (Smart Strike), won her first grass attempt, while second dam Moments of Magic (Danzig) was multiple Grade III-placed in turf marathons.
The Graham Motion barn, successful with Summer Soiree (War Front) in 2011, is represented by Tin Type Gal (Tapit), last-out winner of the GIII Boiling Springs S. at Monmouth Park June 24.
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