Fair Maiden, a consistent daughter of Street Boss owned and bred by Godolphin LLC in Kentucky, is out to prove her victory at 20-1 in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes last Dec. 26 was no fluke when she runs in Saturday's G2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
The prestigious seven-furlong race for fillies and mares four and older will be decided at seven furlongs in this, its 64th running.
“Her victory in the La Brea wasn't much of a surprise in the sense that her form was good,” trainer Eoin Harty said, alluding to her 4-1-1 record from eight starts, with earnings of $321,278. Her lone disappointing effort came in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She finished 12th when rank, steadying and wide in the race at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, 2019.
Other than that, the 4-year-old chestnut filly has never been worse than fourth and has been working forwardly for the Santa Monica.
“She's doing well,” Harty said. 'She's trained well since the La Brea and we're looking forward to the race.”
Fair Maiden began her career at Arlington Park, had two races at Woodbine after that before starts at Santa Anita, Churchill Downs, Keeneland and at Santa Anita for the aforementioned La Brea.
“She's been with me since Day One,” Harty said. “She came out of her Breeders' Cup race with a problem, which explains her layoff (of some 10 months before winning a sprint at Churchill Downs last Sept. 19).
“Seven-eighths should be perfect for her.”
Harty, a 58-year-old native of Dublin, Ireland, enjoyed perhaps his greatest victory in 2009 when Well Armed captured the $6-million Dubai World Cup by 14 lengths under recently retired Aaron Gryder.
Harty was a top assistant to the late John Russell and Bob Baffert before becoming private trainer for Godolphin Racing in 2000.
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