Well-traveled Vale Dori (Arg) (Asiatic Boy {Arg}) seems to lay over her competition as she seeks her third-straight victory in Saturday's GII La Canada S. at Santa Anita. A Group 1 winner in her native country, the bay was acquired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum for last year's Dubai World Cup Carnival, where she finished second to 'TDN Rising Star' Polar River (Congrats) in the G3 UAE Oaks and a close fourth behind Lani (Tapit) in the G2 UAE Derby. Transferred from Mike de Kock to Bob Baffert thereafter, Vale Dori has been on the board in all five of her previous North American starts. She annexed the restricted Tranquility Lake S. at Del Mar Aug. 31, and was a distant third behind champions Stellar Wind (Curlin) and Beholder (Henny Hughes) in the GI Zenyatta S. Oct. 1. A 10 1/4-length optional claiming scorer over track and trip Oct. 28, she was last seen handling Wild At Heart (Indian Charlie), Show Stealer (Eskendereya) and Autumn Flower (Flower Alley) by at least three lengths in the GII Bayakoa H. Dec. 3. Enduring Erin (Kela), a $40,000 claim by Richard Baltas over the summer, is the lone La Canada entrant to have not yet been beaten soundly by the expected favorite. She cruised first off the claim at Del Mar Aug. 25, was third to Autumn Flower over this strip Oct. 16, and added another Del Mar optional claiming win Nov. 11.
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