Santa Anaj

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A field of nine fillies and mares will contest the Easter Sunday feature at

Santa Anita, the $150,000 Santa Ana H. (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. BLACK

MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe), who has come up short in five consecutive

graded stakes dating back to September, again merits serious respect and might

just have found a field she can beat in the Santa Ana.

Prior to leaving her native New Zealand last year, Black Mamba had just a

maiden victory to her credit and had gone unplaced in four consecutive group

stakes. It didn't take long following her importation, however, to prove her

worthiness against some of the best turf fillies in California. After winning

her allowance debut at Del Mar, Black Mamba was beaten three-quarters of a

length by Precious Kitten (Catienus) in the Palomar H. (G2), then finished

behind Nashoba's Key (Silver Hawk) and Citronnade (Lemon Drop Kid) by the same margin in the

Yellow Ribbon S. (G1). She continued to play the role of bridesmaid in the Las

Palmas H. (G2), Dahlia H. (G2) and Buena Vista H. (G2), but in each instance

she tried to close into a moderate pace. While the pace of the Santa Ana may not

be significantly quicker, she does have more ground to work with on Sunday and

figures to be stronger in her second race back from a brief layoff.

LAVENDER SKY (Mt. Livermore), who finished third in the Dahlia, turned in her

best race when second to champion Wait a While (Maria's Mon) in the San Gorgonio

H. (G2) in January. Those black-type placings were impressive considering

she remained eligible for a first-level allowance, and following those two races

she dropped down to that level and comfortably posted a one-length win going 1

1/4 miles. Her previous graded stakes form points her out as a major player in

the Santa Ana.

COSTUME (Danehill) displayed more tactical speed than usual in the Buena

Vista, and the change in style produced dividends when she made the front in the

stretch and held off Black Mamba by a neck. The apparent

absence of other speed in the Santa Ana may allow Costume to assume control from

the outset, but she stretches out a furlong Sunday and her form prior to the

Buena Vista was relatively undistinguished.

KRIS' SIS (Forestry) was third behind Costume and Black Mamba in the Buena

Vista, a race she probably needed following a long layoff. Kris' Sis ended her

2007 campaign on a strong note, capturing the restricted Osunitas H. at Del Mar

and finishing third in the Palomar. She has shown some tactical foot in the past

and seems like one of the more likely to keep Costume from turning the early

pace into a walk.

FOXYSOX (GB) (Foxhound), who sports a 5-3-0-1 record over the Santa Anita

turf, has raced sporadically in 2007-08, but showed signs of life when a closing

third in the Wishing Well II H. last time and should appreciate the stretch-out from

about 6 1/2 furlongs.

The last two winners of the Brazilian Oaks (Brz-G1), COLINA VERDE (Brz) (Know

Heights [Ire]) and IMMORTELLE (Brz) (Vettori), made their American debuts in a

Santa Anita allowance on February 11 where they finished first and second,

respectively. The race itself was not especially fast, however, and both will

have to improve to contend in the Santa Ana.

PERSIAN EXPRESS (Bahri), who was of handicap quality in England, enters off a

third in a third-level allowance in her American debut. She, too, will have to

make significant progress to contend.

I CAN SEE (Flying Chevron) finished second in the Tuzla H. (G3) two starts

ago, but has generally run to her long odds in races of higher quality.