A strong group of East Coast-based filly and mare turf milers join the local contingent to comprise an overflow field for Sunday's GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar. Tentatively favored on the morning line at 7-2 is Juddmonte homebred Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), who annexed the GII Goldikova S. at Santa Anita last November in her only previous try out West. More recently, the Bill Mott pupil was second in Keeneland's GI Jenny Wiley S. in April, and again to eventual GI Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Tepin (Bernstein) in Belmont's GI Just a Game S. June 6. She returned to winning ways last time in an Elmont optional claimer Nov. 1.
Hard Not to Like (Hard Spun) also has some solid California form despite being based on the other side of the country. Third in the Jenny Wiley, she bested next-out GII Royal Heroine Mile winner Fanticola (Silent Name {Jpn}) in Santa Anita's GI Gamely S. May 25 while carrying the colors of Speedway Stable. The Christophe Clement pupil out-nosed Tepin in Saratoga's GI Diana S. July 25, but checked in eight as the favorite in Arcadia's 10-panel GI Rodeo Drive S. Sept. 26. Scratched from the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf due to soft turf Oct. 31, she was acquired for $2.2 million by Tom Ryan's DATTT Farm at Keeneland November. Clement also sends out Stellar Path (Fr) (Astronomer Royal), who took Belmont's GIII Athenia S. Oct. 17 over next-out GIII My Charmer H. winner Lady Lara (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}) and local GIII Red Carpet H. heroine Rusty Slipper (Lemon Drop Kid).
Crowley's Law (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) also makes her first start for new connections. MGSP in Europe, the 4-year-old was a late-on-the-scene third behind Recepta (Speightstown) in Belmont's GIII Noble Damsel S. Sept. 19 while trained by Thomas Dascombe. A distant second to Tepin over soft ground in Keeneland's GI First Lady S. Oct. 3, she was an easy winner of Woodbine's River Memories S. three weeks thereafter. Rockingham Ranch subsequently purchased Crowley's Law and turned her over to Peter Miller.
She's Not Here (Street Cry {Ire}) could be a dangerous sleeper if she can overcome her wide draw. The Vicki Oliver representative upended a course-and-distance optional claimer Aug. 6 before adding the GII Yellow Ribbon H. over Prize Exhibit (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) here Sept. 6. She was most recently seventh in the First Lady.
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