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AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
The return of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) headlines the $150,000 Santa Ynez S. (G2) at Santa Anita on Sunday. The Bob Baffert trainee, who is likely to earn an Eclipse Award at the end of this month, has been nothing short of brilliant in crushing her foes in three straight, but something tells us that the 123-pound highweight could be vulnerable on this questionable surface and is worth trying to upset. We're willing to forgive IZARRA (Distorted Humor) for her Breeders' Cup flop and tab her for the win in this affair for conditioner Ron McAnally. The bay miss made a sparkling debut when rallying from last to dust maiden foes at Del Mar, and followed that superb score with good efforts while placing in the Oak Leaf S. (G1) and Del Mar Debutante S. (G1). The well-bred sophomore has posted a pair of bullet six-furlong drills in advance of this and will surely be running late. If the early leader tires, expect Joe Talamo to be flying in the lane aboard this one. Indian Blessing has displayed dazzling early speed and shouldn't get much early pressure from these foes. The dark bay smoked six panels in 1:10 most recently to signal her readiness for this event, and this seems like a sensible spot for her sophomore bow. We wouldn't be surprised to see the Kentucky-bred keeping her undefeated record following this event. Garrett Gomez returns to the irons. CHAMPAGNE EYES (Flatter) opened her career in a trio of stakes events, but made her first try versus maiden foes a winning one most recently for Doug O'Neill. The bay earned a useful 91 BRIS Speed number in her latest and is well drawn on the rail, so her chances at a top-three placing are good. Mike Baze has the assignment on the filly, who should be tracking in the second flight early. The 10th-place effort by P. S. U. GRAD (Harlan's Holiday) in the Oak Leaf was too bad to be true, but it's hard to back her with great confidence in this spot. The dark bay could grab third with her best. PEISINOE (Yes It's True) has topped lesser fields in both lifetime efforts for Paddy Gallagher and could be any type in the near future. The lass improved from her first try and shouldn't have a problem with the seven furlongs, but she might have trouble with the competition. NOOK AND GRANNY (Impeachment) has yet to finish worse than second in three career tries and will attempt to stretch out another furlong in here for David La Croix. The dark bay filly has some early speed but will likely be put away by Indian Blessing turning for home, and we think others will run better late. GOLDEN DOC A (Unusual Heat) is a stakes winner over this oval and is consistent if nothing else, but her best isn't good enough.
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