Invaders look best in Ballerina

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Invaders She’s a Warrior and Citizen Kitty would appear to have an edge over the locals in the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina on Sunday at Hastings. The 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares drew seven horses, with She’s a Warrior the likely favorite.

The 3-year-old filly Yukon Belle will carry 117 pounds with the rest of the field packing 122.

Trained by Peter Eurton, She’s a Warrior has just two wins in 13 starts, but she has been facing some heavy hitters in Southern California. Last year she finished third to Songbird in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes and Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks.

In her only win this year, She’s a Warrior took them all the way in a $62,500 optionalclaiming race at Santa Anita on April 14, her first start off a six-month layoff. The runnerup, Faithfully, won the $70,000 Santa Lucia in her next start. In her most recent outing, Faithfully finished second to Paradise Woods in the Grade 1 Zenyatta Sept. 30.

Eurton said he brought She’s a Warrior to Hastings to get an elusive graded stakes win.

“She’s placed in multiple graded races and the main reason we are bringing her to Hastings is that we would like her to win one,” said Eurton.

She’s a Warrior, who runs well fresh, is coming off a fourth-place finish in a $62,500 optional-claiming race at Del Mar on July 27.

Eurton said 4-year-old daughter of Majestic Warrior didn’t care for the new surface at Del Mar – “They either like it or hate it,” he said – but thinks she is going to thrive running in Canada at this time of year.

“She likes it cool,” he said. “Heat gets to her. She also trains on a training track, so she should be okay with the tighter turns. We were thrilled when Mario Gutierrez said he would ride her. He’s done a lot for us.”

Gutierrez was aboard Champagne Room when she gave Eurton his first Breeders’ Cup victory in the Juvenile Fillies last year.

She’s a Warrior drew post 5, and if she breaks well she will likely be the one they have to run down.

With three stakes wins including a victory in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Distaff, Citizen Kitty was the top older filly or mare at Emerald Downs this year.

Trainer Jeff Metz sent her to Hastings after the Emerald meet closed on Sept. 24, and he likes the way she has handled her new surroundings.

“I wanted to give her a chance to get used to the tight turns,” he said. “She had a good fivefurlong work last Saturday, and David Lopez said she handled the turns well. Her groom said she is biting and kicking, so she’s ready to go.”

In her last start, Citizen Kitty had a rough trip when she finished second in the Washington Cup Filly and Mare Stakes. Metz said he’d like to see her sitting near the pace Sunday.

Citizen Kitty will break from post 2 with Lopez riding.

Local contender Notis the Jewell proved her upset win in the $50,000 Pacific Customs Brokers Distaff was no fluke when she repeated in the $50,000 Delta Colleen.