Hotitude likely to lead way

CYPRESS, Calif. – Hotitude, who drew the rail in Saturday’s $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos, is truly a backyard product of owner and trainer Kristin Mulhall’s operation.

Mulhall bred Hotitude, who is by Heat Shield, a stallion she keeps on her Los Angeles-area property. Mulhall has bred Heat Shield exclusively to her own mares. Hotitude, who was third in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita, is by far the most successful runner from a crop of three foals.

Hotitude is part of Saturday’s field of six in the Soviet Problem, which is run at a mile for California-bred 2-year-old fillies. The Soviet Problem is the feature race on Saturday’s 10-race program on the final weekend of the Los Alamitos winter meeting. Santa Anita opens its winter-spring meeting Dec. 26.

KEY CONTENDERS

Hotitude, by Heat Shield Last 3 Beyers: 63-63-53

◗ Owned by Mulhall and Steve Taub, Hotitude is likely to take the lead in the Soviet Problem, Mulhall said Thursday.

“From the rail, I’d rather get out of there,” she said.

◗ Martin Pedroza has ridden Hotitude in her three starts, and retains the mount.

◗ In the Golden State Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 2, Hotitude was 25-1 and raced on the inside. She was always close to the front, led by a length in the stretch, and finished 2 3/4 lengths behind winner Give Me a Hint, who has been turned out for the winter.

“She got banged around on the turn,” Mulhall said. “She had every right to quit. She’s the type that’s game and tries really hard. I think she can go long.”

Kookie Gal, by Boisterous Beyers: 70-60

◗ Kookie Gal has raced twice, both times at a mile on turf, and makes her first start on dirt. She won her debut in a maiden race for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita in October and was fifth in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 24, finishing 4 3/4 lengths behind race winner Elsa.

◗ The Soviet Problem will be Kookie Gal’s first race without blinkers. Trainer Peter Miller said, “She’s been a little rank.”

Creative Instinct, by Creative Cause Last 3 Beyers: 48-59-64

◗ Creative Instinct is the only stakes winner in the field, having won the Generous Portion Stakes for Calbred 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Del Mar in August. Creative Instinct was fourth in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies and eighth in the Jimmy Durante Stakes.

“Creative Instinct didn’t run well on grass,” Miller said. “We’ll put a line through that. She’s training good.”

◗ Creative Instinct is likely to race near the front, while Kookie Gal is expected to race from off the pace.

“They’ve got two different styles,” Miller said. “I feel they’re both very live.”