Goodyearforroses stands out in Santa Ana

ARCADIA, Calif. – Two starts into her California career, Goodyearforroses can seemingly do it all.

She won the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes on a sloppy track in December and the minor Astra Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf Feb. 2. Trainer Richard Baltas expects Goodyearforroses to settle into a turf campaign this year.

Goodyearforroses has an excellent chance to win the most prestigious race of her career Sunday in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

“I think she’s better on grass,” Baltas said. “I was hoping she’d be as good as she is.

“She’s pretty forward in her training. For a grass horse, she’s more on the aggressive side at times. She gallops like a pro.”

Owned by Abbondanza Racing, Goodyearforroses was purchased for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November sale last year. A 5-year-old Irishbred mare, Goodyearforroses will be favored in a field of eight in the $200,000 Santa Ana Stakes.

Goodyearforroses is the only American graded stakes winner in the field of eight. Pretty Girl was a Group 1 winner in Argentina in 2014 and second in the Frankel in her California debut. Do the Dance, Evo Cam po, Responsible for love, and Sweet Charity have won minor stakes in the United States or Europe.

KEY CONTENDERS

Goodyearforroses, by Azamour Last 3 Beyers: 93-77-88

◗ Goodyearforroses was near the lead throughout the Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles but closed from fifth of 10 in the Astra. Corey Nakatani was aboard for both wins and has the mount Sunday.

“He had her farther back last time, and it seemed to work out,” Baltas said.

◗ Last year, Goodyearforroses was a stakes winner at Woodbine when trained by Roger Attfield.

Sweet Charity, by Myboycharlie Last 2 Beyers: 87-89

◗ A stakes winner in France last year, Sweet Charity was second in optional-claiming races on Jan. 1 and Feb. 3. In the latter race, she lost by a neck after a wide trip.

“She won it one jump past [the wire],” trainer John Sadler said.

◗ Leading rider Flavien Prat has the mount on Sweet Charity, who impressed Sadler with a six-furlong workout in 1:14.40 on March 2.

Kenriya, by Kendargent Last Beyer: 84

◗ Kenriya was fourth in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf Jan. 16 in her American debut. She was trained for that race by Christophe Ferland of France and later joined Baltas’s stable.

“I think she’s doing better,” Baltas said. “I don’t have a lot of experience with French horses. She seems like she’s gained weight.”

◗ A 4-year-old, Kenriya won twice on the all-weather surface at Deauville, France, last year. She was second in the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte last April and later 11th of 14 in the Group 1 French 1000 Guineas.