Las Virgenes

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's one-mile Las Virgenes S. (G1) at Santa Anita has drawn a

competitive field of nine sophomore fillies whose paths could cross yet again in

the March 11 Santa Anita Oaks (G1). ROMANCE IS DIANE (In Excess [Ire]) already

owns a Grade 1 victory, taking the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) last out, and could

add another top level race to her record.

The dark bay miss made her career debut under the tutelage of trainer Doug

O'Neill at Del Mar, finishing a well-beaten eighth, and was transferred to

conditioner Mike Mitchell. She didn't race again until early October, setting

the pace to break her maiden during the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet by two

lengths. Romance Is Diane made her stakes debut a winning one, posting a 1

3/4-length victory in the California Cup Juvenile Fillies S., before adding the

Starlet to her line at 14-1. She could keep her win streak going here while

making her sophomore bow with David Flores returning to the saddle.

JUMP ON IN (Jump Start) earned a field-best 104 BRIS Speed rating when

winning her debut by 5 1/4 lengths at Del Mar, but wasn't quite ready

for stakes competition when entered in the Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) next out.

She raced behind the pacesetter in the early going, but faded late to finish

fifth that day. Given some time off, the John Sadler charge returned to just

miss in the Moccasin S. by a half-length before wiring an allowance field at

Santa Anita by five lengths. Jump On In proved last out she doesn't need the

lead to win when taking on six rivals in the Santa Ynez S. (G2), bobbling at the

start and having to move up from fifth to win going away by 3 3/4 lengths. The

bay lass will be stretching out past seven furlongs for the first time here, but

could take this one with Kent Desormeaux aboard for the first time.

RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) is something of a question mark. The chestnut miss

made her debut at Churchill Downs last June, finishing a well-beaten fourth,

then wasn't seen again until recording her first official workout in late November.

She showed up in a Santa Anita maiden in early January to easily score by six

lengths while earning a 95 Speed rating and 104 BRIS Late Pace figure. Rags to

Riches could be any type, and one point in her favor is that jockey Garrett

Gomez chose to stay with her instead of Santa Ysabel S. (G3) winner BARONESS

THATCHER (Johannesburg). She could surprise in here at a nice price.

CASH INCLUDED (Include) turned in a decent effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Fillies (G1) last out, finishing fifth while earning a 95 Speed rating. The

Craig Dollase trainee earned a berth in that event after taking the Oak Leaf

Breeders' Cup S. (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths, and could threaten in this spot under

Corey Nakatani. SWISS DIVA (Swiss Yodeler) is undefeated from three lifetime

starts, including an easy 8 1/2-length victory in the California Breeders'

Champion S. last out. The Paddy Gallagher-trained chestnut might prove to be a top class

performer, so consider for the top three in her graded debut.

Baroness Thatcher began her career with Dale Romans, but was transferred to

Patrick Biancone before her last race. That event, the Santa Ysabel, she

captured by a half-length while stretching out to 8 1/2 furlongs for the first

time. The chestnut filly has a chance in the exotics with Victor Espinoza

aboard. QUICK LITTLE MISS (Freud) defeated Jump On In to take the Moccasin

before running second in her next two, the Starlet and Santa Ynez. She could

earn a share.

RUNWAY ROSIE (Include) was a well-beaten 10th in the Starlet two back and

might not be able to keep up here. SLEW O' PLATINUM (Stephen Got Even) appears

out of her class against these.