By Brian DiDonato
Despite the absolute dominance she displayed over four returning rivals on seasonal debut in the GII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 6, 'TDN Rising Star' Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) faces nine foes in Saturday's GIII Santa Ysabel S. at Santa Anita. Last year's champion 2-year-old filly won her first four starts by a combined 22 lengths, culminating in a 5 3/4-length victory lap in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Oct. 31. Backed at five cents on the dollar back in California last time, the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling essentially cantered around the track, hitting the line 6 1/2 lengths clear of Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road) in one of the most facile graded stakes victories in recent memory. Merirosvo (Lonhro {Aus}), Jade Princess (Tapit) and Street Fancy (Street Sense) were fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
Not Now Carolyn (Tapit) is one of the lucky ones who hasn't faced Songbird yet, and likely possesses more upside–and possibly upset potential–than most in here. Off the board in a pair of sprints last year for trainer Eric Guillot and breeder Southern Equine Stable, the daughter of Grade I winner and inaugural Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint heroine Maryfield (Elusive Quality) was acquired privately by a group of partners and turned over to Keith Desormeaux. Stretched to a mile here Jan. 28, the bay went right to the front and held sway by a comfortable 1 1/2-length margin.
Both My Dynamo (Discreetly Mine) and Code Warrior (Society's Chairman) were last seen racing at Golden Gate. The former belied 33-1 odds to break her maiden first out at Del Mar Aug. 16, but was beaten 22 lengths by Songbird when ninth in the GI Del Mar Debutante the following month. She most recently finished second in the California Oaks up north Feb. 6 in her first two-turn attempt. Code Warrior, who won the first three starts of her career including two stakes sprints at Golden Gate, was second in this venue's 6 1/2-panel GII Santa Ynez S. Jan. 2. She was fourth as the favorite in the Cal Oaks.
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