Stormy Lucy, Customer Base headline Santa Barbara

Stormy Lucy, who comes off her first graded victory in the March 16 Santa

Ana, seeks to follow up for new connections in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000

Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita. Previously trained by Frank Lucarelli

for Erica Gaunt, the five-year-old mare has since been privately purchased by

Steve Moger and transferred to the barn of Ed Moger Jr.

The winner of a pair of minor stakes at Golden Gate Fields, Stormy Lucy

placed in four graded stakes -- the 2012 Honeymoon Handicap, Del Mar Oaks and

Rodeo Drive and in last December's Robert J. Frankel -- before earning an

overdue breakthrough in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Ana.

But the daughter of Stormy Atlantic isn't certain to duplicate the result

over an added furlong on Sunday. She has been unplaced in two of three previous

attempts at this 1 1/4-mile distance, her best result being a well-beaten third

in the aforementioned Rodeo Drive as a sophomore. Stormy Lucy also rates as the

120-pound highweight in the Santa Barbara. On the plus side, she does keep

Rafael Bejarano aboard. Bejarano masterminded a rail-skimming trip last time,

and could try to repeat the feat from post 3.

Stormy Lucy's success in the Santa Ana flattered Customer Base, who nipped

her in the Frankel, and that arguably makes the Glen Hill Farm colorbearer the

one to beat here. By Lemon Drop Kid, Customer Base has plenty of stamina. The

Tom Proctor mare was a driving winner of the Lucie Manet at Hollywood last

summer, her only opportunity so far at this trip, and she needed every yard of

the 1 1/8-mile Frankel to deny Stormy Lucy. Customer Base has run once in the

interim, winding up ninth on the cutback to a mile in the February 17 Buena

Vista, but promises to do much better over her preferred 1 1/4 miles. Hall of

Famer Mike Smith retains the mount.

Three of Stormy Lucy's beaten rivals from the Santa Ana are back, led by the

Argentinean import Miss Serendipity. In her grand finale in her homeland, she

romped by four lengths in a Group 1 over 1 1/4 miles on turf last June. Miss

Serendipity resurfaced with Ron McAnally this winter, running creditably each

time, and has the look of one rounding into form. Fourth in both the January 12

Paseana on the main track and in the Buena Vista on turf, she ran evenly in

third in the Santa Ana. The extra ground could bring out the best in the classy

mare, who renews her partnership with Brice Blanc.

Topic, a non-threatening sixth behind Stormy Lucy in the Santa Ana, is

another eligible to benefit from the step up to 1 1/4 miles. The Neil Drysdale

filly was a rallying third in last summer's American Oaks fresh off her maiden

win, and promptly went last to first in the 1 3/8-mile C.T.T. and Thoroughbred

Owners of California Handicap at Del Mar. Topic headed to the sidelines

following a disappointing last-of-seven effort in the September 28 Rodeo Drive.

The Santa Ana marked her return from a nearly six-month layoff, and she could

well move forward off that tightener, especially at a more suitable trip.

Rounding out the Santa Ana alumnae is Floral Romance, who trailed that day in

her final outing for Bill Mott. Now with Jerry Hollendorfer, she hopes to return

to the form that saw her finish third in the January 25 Endeavour at Tampa Bay

Downs.

Changethechannel, a course-and-distance allowance winner back in January,

looms as the likely pacesetter, while Champagneandcaviar and Phonybooksnrecords

both need to improve a fair bit to factor.

Later on the Sunday card, Chips All In will defend his title in the Grade 3,

$100,000

San

Simeon at about grassy 6 1/2 furlongs. The Jeff Mullins charge is a

specialist on the unique downhill course. Aside from his victory in last year's

San Simeon, he also won the Eddie D. and missed by a nose in the Joe Hernandez

in 2013. Chips All In was a lackluster fourth in the December 28 Daytona in his

latest appearance, but a freshening has likely done him a world of good, as

suggested by his recent bullet works over the local turf. Tyler Baze regains the

mount for the first time since the 2013 San Simeon.

His most dangerous rival is the California-bred Lakerville, another with

proven form on the downhill. The talented, but sparingly-raced, son of Unusual

Heat made a winning debut here for Barry Abrams in October 2011, and earlier

this year, returned from a 17-month absence to roll home in the Clocker's

Corner. After a troubled second in the February 22 Sensational Star, Lakerville

stretched out to two turns for the March 8 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, but could

manage only sixth. He reverts to sprinting, and reunites with Corey Nakatani,

his winning pilot from the Clocker's Corner.

Sweet Swap was runner-up to Lakerville in the Clocker's Corner, where he was

hampered by stumbling at the start. The full brother to Grade 1-winning

millionaire Sidney's Candy then paid Lakerville a compliment when coming back to

take the February 23 Joe Hernandez, beating Zimmer and Pure Tactics, who

re-oppose on Sunday.

Also worth noting are Artest, who invades from Churchill Downs for Al Stall

Jr.; comebacker Chiloquin, successful in his only previous try at this course

and distance; the Proctor-trained Pataky Kid, who picks up Hall of Famer Gary

Stevens in his reappearance; and underachieving blueblood Forward March, a

grandson of Miesque who looks to turn over a new leaf for new trainer John

Shirreffs.

Sunday's

5TH race, an optional claimer at a mile on the main track, features 2013

Sunland Derby romper Govenor Charlie. Trained by Bob Baffert, the son of

Midnight Lute looks for a confidence booster in the wake of a poor fifth in the

March 15 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn.

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