Having already bested returning rivals Show Stealer (Eskendereya) and Autumn Flower (Flower Alley) by daylight last time, globe-trotting Vale Dori (Arg) (Asiatic Boy {Arg}) appears poised to add a fourth-consecutive tally–and third in Grade II company–in Santa Anita's Santa Maria S. Saturday. No worse than third in six previous Stateside tries, the bay aired by 10 1/4 lengths in an Oct. 28 track-and-trip optional claimer before annexing the GII Bayakoa H. at Del Mar Dec. 3 and the GII La Canada S. last time here Jan. 14. She appears close to unbeatable on paper, but will meet a few fresh faces she hasn't handled before. The lightly raced Midnight Toast (Midnight Lute) showed little when debuted down the hill last May, but resurfaced to don cap and gown at Los Alamitos Racecourse Dec. 16. She was a convincing winner of a nine-panel rained-off optional claimer here Jan. 14. A three-time stakes winner in Cal-bred company over this strip, Sheer Pleasure (Birdonthewire) was second to the great Beholder (Henny Hughes) in last May's GIII Adoration S. She faced another champion in Finest City (City Zip) last time in the GII Santa Monica S. Jan. 21, checking in third at a seven-panel trip that is short of her best.
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