Las Flores J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of 12 distaffers will sprint six furlongs in Saturday's

$100,000 Las Flores H. (G3) at Santa Anita, and we'll give the edge to MARYFIELD

(Elusive Quality), who won't have to face Santa Monica H. (G1) winner Pussycat

Doll (Real Quiet) in this spot. The Doug O'Neill-trained mare also cuts back to

six furlongs, and she was ultra-impressive in her last attempt at the distance,

earning a 104 BRIS Speed rating for her score in the Very Subtle S. at Churchill

Downs in early November.

A two-time winner over the track, Maryfield suffered her only off-the-board

finish from four dirt starts at Santa Anita when finishing fourth in the Santa

Monica last time. She's trained well since that start, recording a four-furlong

breeze in :47 4/5 last Saturday, and she'll keep Victor Espinoza in the saddle.

The speedy six-year-old owns terrific BRIS E2 Pace numbers, registering a 114

last time, and the Canadian-bred will be on or very close to the lead from the

start. We'll look for Maryfield to assert herself on the far turn and keep the

late runners at bay in the stretch.

NOSSA CANCAO (Brz) (Fast Gold) enters the Las Flores in career-best form,

passing a lot of horses to finish a good second in the Santa Monica, and she

likes the main track in Arcadia, California (8-2-1-2). A sharp victress two

starts back in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance/optional claiming event at Santa Anita,

the seven-year-old mare might prefer a little more ground than six furlongs, but Nossa Cancao should receive the perfect set-up on Saturday. She's eligible to

come flying late.

HYSTERICALADY (Distorted Humor) has the class to be a serious factor, but she

hasn't started since mid-July. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is probably giving her

a race back before pursuing bigger goals, but we can't dismiss the four-year-old

filly's chances. She captured the 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks (G2)

by 7 1/2 lengths two starts back, notching a 106 Speed rating, and Hystericalady

did win her last start at six furlongs easily. She'll be stalking the pace under

Corey Nakatani.

SECRET SCHEME (Precocity) is three-for-three at the distance and exits a

solid third in the Santa Monica. She's done most of her damage against lesser

rivals in Northern California, but the Hollendorfer trainee is well drawn in

post 5 and should be in position to pounce at the top of the stretch with her

tactical speed. Secret Scheme deserves serious consideration for the top three.

RUNNING BOBCATS (Running Stag) may have class issues here, but the stalker

will offer good value and could possibly make a dent into the exotics. Formerly

based in Florida, the five-year-old mare made her first dirt start at Santa

Anita last out but never got into the running after breaking slowly. She's

trained well since then for Jack Carava, and we'll look for an improved showing

on Saturday.

SELVATICA (Forestry) drew an outside post (11) and has had her share of

physical problems. The lightly raced six-year-old looks like a definite pace

factor and is eligible to improve off her last two efforts on the turf, but

we'll just watch to see how she fares while stepping up in class in her debut

for Julio Canani. HELLO LUCKY

(Lucky Lionel) does her best running on the front end and may face too much

pressure to be effective. MAZELLA (Mazel Trick) was no factor when fifth in this

event last year, and we can't envision her showing more this year based on her

recent form.

KATY SMILES (Limit Out) will likely attempt to show speed from the rail, but

the Turf Paradise shipper could be overmatched in this spot. SPIRIT TO SPARE

(Pole Position) is another front runner who is probably in too deep. BABE HALL

(El Corredor) and DANCING SQUALL (River Squall) both look too slow based on

their Speed ratings.