Stakes winners meet in Ynez

ARCADIA, Calif. – A continent apart, Artistic Diva and Win the War had the same 2-year-old seasons.

Artistic Diva beat maidens on turf at Del Mar in August in her first start and won her stakes debut in the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 22. Win the War is unbeaten after two races – a maiden race on turf at Woodbine on Oct. 20, and her stakes debut in the Glorious Song Stakes there on Nov. 19.

Win the War has been shipped from Florida to California for Sunday’s Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Artistic Diva is based at Santa Anita.

That may be Artistic Diva’s only advantage against Win the War in the $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes. Artistic Diva will break from the inside in a field of nine, a draw that concerns trainer John Sadler.

“I’d like a different post, but I can’t do anything about it,” he said.

The Santa Ynez Stakes field has three stakes winners, including Steph Being Steph, who won the Golden Gate Debutante on Nov. 24. Yesterday’s News was second in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 9, while Midnight Bisou was beaten a nose when second in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 18.

The Santa Ynez Stakes will be the first start in a stakes for Allianna and War Heroine, who are trained by Peter Miller and won maiden races at Del Mar in November.

KEY CONTENDERS

Artistic Diva, by Munnings Beyers: 76-66

◗ Artistic Diva is quick and expected to be prominent from the start under jockey Victor Espinoza. Sadler is concerned there could be too much pace.

“I’ll leave it up to Victor and see what trip she gets,” he said.

◗ Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Artistic Diva won the Anoakia Stakes at six furlongs by 2 1/4 lengths by leading throughout. In her debut, Artistic Diva overcame a slow start to win a maiden race at five furlongs.

Win the War, by War Front Beyers: 93-61

◗ The Santa Ynez Stakes will be the first race on dirt for Win the War, who won the Glorious Song Stakes on a synthetic track. Win the War trains on dirt in Florida.

◗ Owned by Gary Barber and John Oxley and trained by Mark Casse, Win the War rallied wide to win her debut on turf by a neck.

“When I sent her to Woodbine, I thought she was on the special side,” Casse said.

◗ In the Glorious Song Stakes, Win the War, a 9-2 chance, closed from fourth in a field of six to win by 11 1/4 lengths over Grace and Dignity, the 1-5 favorite.

“I thought we had a shot to beat her, but to beat her the way she did surprised me,” Casse said of Grace and Dignity.

“I like the seven-eighths. I want to run her on the dirt. I think if she handles the dirt, they have to beat her.”