In what shapes up as a clash between a pair of highly regarded distaffers this Sunday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., John Sadler's Edgeway rates a slight advantage over Bob Baffert's Private Mission as they head a field of five older fillies and mares in the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes, to be contested at six furlongs.
With a field of five older fillies and mares entered, Edgeway, second two starts back in the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 6 at Del Mar and most recently victorious over Baffert's talented Merneith in the ungraded Kalookan Queen at 6 ½ furlongs here on Jan. 2, should be extremely tough to beat with John Velazquez back in the saddle.
A 5-year-old mare by Competitive Edge out of the Stormin Fever mare Magical Solution, Edgeway is owned by Hronis Racing and will be seeking her second graded stakes victory. A one length winner of the G3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap going 6 ½ furlongs three starts back on Aug. 20, she has an outstanding overall mark of 10-6-2-1 and earnings of $596,360.
Victorious by 1 ¾ lengths in gate to wire fashion at 2-5 in the Kalookan Queen, her win looks even better when Merneith's next-out win in the G2 Santa Monica Stakes is factored in. Expertly managed by her connections, Edgeway won three of her five starts last year while banking $431,000.
Owned by Baoma Corporation, Private Mission was a $750,000 yearling purchase who will be making her eighth start on Sunday. Although she won back to back graded stakes, the G2 Torrey Pines at one mile on Aug. 21 and the G2 Zenyatta at 1 1/16 miles here on Oct. 3, she comes off a pair of subpar races and will thus likely be the second choice at Las Flores post time.
Off at 10-1 in the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff two starts back on Nov. 6, she showed the way early but tired badly to finish a distant last. In her most recent start, the G1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs on Dec. 26, she was off as the 3-5 favorite, but finished an even sixth, beaten 7 ½ lengths while never threatening.
A 4-year-old filly by Into Mischief out of the Unbridled mare Private Gift, Private Mission had no recorded works in January. Dating back to Feb. 11, she has had five drills, her most recent a three furlong move in 35.60 seconds on Wednesday. With four wins from seven starts, she has earnings of $257,300 as she bids for her third graded stakes victory.
THE GRADE 3 LAS FLORES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 1 of 8 Post time 12:30 p.m. PT
- Private Mission—Juan Hernandez—124
- Park Avenue—Tyler Baze–120
- Edgeway—John Velazquez—124
- Dynasty of Her Own—Ricardo Gonzalez–122
- Aloha Kitten—Flavien Prat–124
First post time for an eight-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.
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