Song’ Seeks Second Straight

Russo, Russo, Gatto and Hollendorfer’s Thegirlinthatsong (My Golden Song) seeks a Grade II double in Saturday’s Santa Maria S. in Arcadia. Third in Del Mar’s GIII Torrey Pines S. in August after a private purchase and trainer change from Andrew Konkoly to Jerry Hollendorfer, she was second in both the Remington Park Oaks Sept. 28 and Zia Park Oaks two starts later Nov. 26. The dark bay resurfaced for the track-and-trip GII La Canada S. Jan. 17, and pulled off the mild upset at 6-1 with a 4 1/4-length score. Surprisingly, Hall of Famer Hollendorfer has never won the Santa Maria. Fellow Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has won this race twice, and saddles three chances for another trophy. Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute) nearly bested champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) in the local GI Zenyatta S. Sept. 27 before finishing sixth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff a month later. She defeated Warren’s Venada(Affirmative), Legacy (Sightseeing), Valiant Emilia (Per) (Pegasus Wind) and Yahilwa (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GII Bayakoa S. at Los Alamitos Race Course Dec. 6, but faded to sixth behind Warren’s Venada at 3-5 in the wet/fast Pasaena S. here Jan. 11. Baffert will also be represented by Kaleem Shah’s “TDN Rising Star” Awesome Baby (Awesome Again), who sports a pair of speedy local bullets leading up to this 4-year-old debut. The speedster annexed last January’s GII Santa Ynez S. sprinting here, and stretched out effectively to take the GIII Santa Ysabel S. in March. Awesome Baby added the Sunland Park Oaks later that month, but has been off since a fifth-place finish cutting back for the Kalookan Queen S. here Dec. 28. Baffert’s third trainee is fellow Shah colorbearer Sweet Marini (Marino Marini), winner of a pair of 5 1/2-panel Los Alamitos optional claimers in December and most recently second in this track’s seven-furlong GII Santa Monica S.