Tiz Flirtatious seeks perfect mark in La Canada; Drill heads San Pedro

Unbeaten homebred Tiz Flirtatious gets tested for both distance and

class among eight four-year-old fillies entered in Santa Anita's 38th

running of the Grade 2, $150,000

La Canada Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on Sunday.

The California-bred daughter of Tizbud has methodically ascended the

class ladder for trainer Marty Jones with three impressive victories

that have seen her odds drop accordingly. She went from 9-1 (maiden win)

to 3-1 (allowance victory) and finally to 9-5 when capturing Hollywood

Park's Cat's Cradle Handicap by 1 1/2 lengths at 7 1/2 furlongs on

December 11.

Joel Rosario will be back aboard when Tiz Flirtatious attempts to

prove she is a graded-quality filly of distance proportions while

stretching out in a lineup that includes a pair of graded winners.

Among those with whom Tiz Flirtatious will have to contend are Great

Hot, winner of Keeneland's Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes, and May Day Rose, a

dual Grade 3 scorer. May Day Rose is actually the most accomplished of

the La Canada entrants but has been beaten in her last four, including a

head loss in Churchill Downs' Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes on November 5.

Earlier on Santa Anita's Sunday card, Grade 1 victor Drill will return to the

sprint game in the the 21st running of the $75,000

San

Pedro Stakes for three-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs

Trained by Bob Baffert, the dark bay colt's last race at less than a mile

came when he captured the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs on

September 7. The Lawyer Ron offspring has regressed significantly since being

stretched out.

After finishing second as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes on

October 1, Drill went downhill in a hurry against topflight competition. He was

well beaten in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot and

Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. Garcia has ridden the sophomore in all but his maiden

win and retains the mount for the San Pedro.