Top Trainers Dominate Virgenes Field

A well-matched field of 10 3-year-old fillies, representing four of the most powerful barns in Southern California, take to the GI Kentucky Oaks trail in today’s GI Las Virgenes S. in Arcadia. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert saddles a pair of fillies, including wife Jill’s Maybellene (Lookin at Lucky), in search of his fourth Las Virgenes trophy. After stumbling and being eased in this track’s GI Chandelier S. Sept. 27, the bay bounced back to take a first-level optional claimer over track and trip Oct. 23. Achiever’s Legacy (City Zip) was third in that heat, but defeated Maybellene in Del Mar’s seven-furlong Desi Arnaz S. Nov. 16. Maybellene was last seen finishing a close third behind champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway) in the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos Racecourse Dec. 13. 

Baffert also saddles Spendthrift Farm’s $375,000 FTSAUG yearling Callback (Street Sense). A second-up winner over Glory (Tapit) going 5 1/2 panels at Los Al Dec. 4, the bay was second at 17-1 in the local 6 1/2-furlong GII Santa Ynez S. Jan. 3. She removes blinkers for this first route try, and is bred to get the trip–her dam is a half to GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria’s Mon). 

Fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer has five entries in this event, including Achiever’s Legacy and Glory. Achiever’s Legacy was fifth in the Starlet, while Glory turned heads with a commanding two-length maiden-breaking tally over 6 1/2 furlongs here Jan. 10. 

Mark DeDomenico and North American Thoroughbred Horse Company’s Majestic Presence (Majestic Warrior) was fourth in the Chandelier, but ninth after a wide trip in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was third behind Take Charge Brandi in the GIII Delta Downs Princess S. Nov. 22, and fourth in the Starlet. Hollendorfer also has Cheyenne Stables’s Anoakia S. winner Light the City (Street Sense), who was third in the Desi Arnaz and fifth in the Santa Ynez; and KMN Racing’s Lutine Belle (Bellamy Road), victoress of the grassy Blue Norther S. last out Jan. 1. 

Barber, Barber and Wachtel Stable’s Suva Harbor (Rockport Harbor) has never been out of the exacta, and is two-for-two since being purchased privately and transferred from David Hoffmans to John Sadler. The grey broke her maiden at a mile of Del Mar grass Nov. 8, and bested Miss Mandate (Pioneerof the Nile) in a main-track allowance here Jan. 4. 

Miss Mandate is one of two Mark Casse trainees along with Woodford Racing’s Mio Me (Eskendereya), who earned her diploma when cutting back down the hill Jan. 3.