Restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred or sired in California, the Soviet Problem attracted nine entrants.

Part of the Golden State Series, the Soviet Problem is the last of eight races. Post time Friday is 12:30 p.m. Pacific. Scheduled post time for the main event is 4:28 p.m.

Owned by breeder George Krikorian and trained by John Sadler, Big Novel was more than six lengths clear of the rest of the field in the Golden State contest at seven furlongs.

A daughter of Mr. Big and the Heatseeker mare Steamy Novel, Big Novel hasn't been worse than third in her four races and has earned $95,850. She broke her maiden Oct. 2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

At the Spa will try for her fourth win in five starts for a partnership that includes Tom Beckerle, Saul Carrillo, and breeder Terry Lovingier and trainer Jorge Periban. The Outwork filly out of the Smoke Glacken mare Spa Creek, who suffered her lone loss when last in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Sept. 5, has banked $165,000 and has stakes victories in the Fasig Tipton Debutante and CTBA.

Four members of the Soviet Problem cast – Dendera, Girl Ranger, Professors' Pride, and Smilin Evie – are coming off wins.

Trained by Sadler for Cicero Farms LLC and breeder Batchelor Family Trust, Dendera was a neck winner as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite in an optional claimer going the Soviet Problem distance on turf Oct. 22.

The win for the Shaman Ghost filly out of the Scat Daddy mare Daddy's Due was her second in three races on grass. She was fifth of 10 in her debut in her lone try on dirt July 16. She's banked $83,200.

Dismissed at 35-1 in her Nov. 7 bow in a $50,000 maiden claimer for California breds, Girl Ranger rolled to a 5 ¼ length win for Marsha Naify and trainer Juan Carlos Lopez, but the daughter of U.S. Ranger is now in the stable of Michael McCarthy.

Out of the Bertrando mare Soul Flyer, Girl Ranger picked up $21,600 for the authoritative score.

Professors' Pride debuted with a one-length victory as the 8-5 second choice Nov. 14 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. The Bayern filly out of the Twirling Candy mare Last Resort earned $42,000 for the win for Academic Farms and trainer Eddie Truman.

Trained by Richard Baltas for Panic Stables LLC, Smilin Evie has been away since prevailing by 1 ¼ lengths in her initial try Oct. 24. The Tom's Tribute filly out of the Exchange Rate mare Lady Katfish collected $36,600 for the triumph.

Trainer Walther Solis entered both Madiha and Munny Penny.

Owned by Zahra Madiha, Amanda Navarro, and breeder Lovingier, Madiha is winless in five starts with earnings of $25,880. The daughter of Shaman Ghost and the Great Notion mare Very Few Details finished fifth in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies in her most recent outing.

Owned and bred by Lovingier, Munny Penny will be making her first start since finishing second behind At the Spa in the Fasig Tipton Debutante June 20. The Munnings filly out of the Animal Kingdom mare Northern Song has earned $72,460 while winning once in three races.

The field is completed by Rose Maddox, who was a neck behind Dendera when last seen Oct. 22. The Grazen filly out of the Unusual Heat mare has earned $36,000 for owner-breeder Nick Alexander and trainer Steve Miyadi. Rose Maddox was a first-out winner over the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, Calif., Sept. 11.

From inside out, the field for the Soviet Problem Stakes: Madiha, Kyle Frey, 117 pounds; Dendera, Flavien Prat, 120; Girl Ranger, Drayden Van Dyke, 120; Professors' Pride, Juan Hernandez, 120; At the Spa, Tyler Baze, 120; Smilin Evie, Ricardo Gonzalez, 120; Rose Maddox, Umberto Rispoli, 124; Munny Penny, Abel Cedillo, 120 and Big Novel, Joe Bravo, 120.

One race earlier, trainer Art Sherman will saddle the final starter of his career when Chasing Alchemy will try to break his maiden against seven other 2-year-old maidens in a $50,000 claimer at six furlongs.

Sherman, 84, who has spent more than 65 years in racing as an exercise rider, jockey, and trainer – which included conditioning two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome – will be honored on his retirement with a video presentation and winner's circle ceremony between races.

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The homebred 2-year-old daughter of Outwork proved a neck the best at the end of the 5 1/2-furlong headliner for California-bred fillies and earned her connections $57,000 from a total purse of $101,500. Final time for the race was 1:06.11.

At the Spa, now undefeated in three starts, is owned by the trio of Terry Lovingier (her breeder), Tom Beckerle or Saul Carillo. Her victory pushed her bankroll to $164,580.

Finishing second was William R. Peeples' Drizella, while third, just a head back, was Lovingier, Madiha or Navarro's Madiha.

At the Spa paid $8.20, $4.40 and $3.60 across the board. Drizella returned $7.20 and $5.40 and Madiha paid $9.60 to show.

For veteran Baze, the score was his 39th stakes win at Del Mar. For trainer Jorge Periban it was his first.

The conditioner said he was looking ahead to a possible start for his filly in the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on Sunday, Sept. 5.

In the track's Pick 6 Single Ticket Jackpot wager, the kitty rose once again for the ninth straight racing day as multiple tickets tabbed the final six winners on the card. The Jackpot carryover into Friday's eight-race card is now $747,277. The Jackpot is paid out when there is just a single ticket that selects all six winners.

First post Friday is at 4 p.m.

Post race quotes:

TYLER BAZE (At the Spa, winner) – “We've been training her in the morning to run like this; to come from behind, take a little dirt in her face. I think she gets more aggressive when that happens. Today I saw that hole (on the fence) and knew it was my only shot. My filly was up for it; there wasn't much room there, but she got through. She ran like the horse I know she is. She doesn't like to get beat.”

JORGE PERIBAN (At the Spa, winner) – “She showed me a lot today. She showed that she can come from behind. Most of the time she breaks in front. We had a few problems in the stretch but we got lucky to get inside and get the money. We will wait and see about (next race), but maybe the Debutante (Grade 1, September 5) and if we get lucky, maybe the Breeders' Cup.”

FRACTIONS:  :21.69  :46.15  :59.39  1:06.11

The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Baze and his first in the CTBA. He now has 39 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the first one ever at Del Mar for trainer Periban.

The winning owners are Terry Lovingier from Long Beach, CA; Tom Beckerle of Seoul, Korea and Saul Carillo.

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At The Spa, a California-bred daughter of Outwork bred and owned by Terry Lovingier and trained by Jorge Periban, comes in off a victory in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante on June 20 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and will be tasked to go another eighth of a mile in the Sorrento while breaking from the outside post. The filly is also entered in Thursday's CTBA Stakes.

The field for the Sorrento from the rail with jockeys in parenthesis: She's So Shiny (Ricky Gonzalez); Smash Ticket (Umberto Rispoli); Eda (Abel Cedillo); Shesgotattitude (Trevor McCarthy); Loverheart (Drayden Van Dyke); It's Simple (Mario Gutierrez); Sax (Joe Bravo); First Promise (Jessica Pyfer); Elm Drive (Juan Hernandez); Roses For Suzzett (Emily Ellingwood) and At the Spa (Tyler Baze).

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The $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes, at 5 ½ furlongs for California-bred 2-year-old fillies initiates things on Thursday. From a list of 12 nominations, a field of nine was entered Saturday with Jorge Periban-trained At the Spa significantly coming in off a victory in a $100,000 stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., in June.

The post position draw was to be held later in the day. The field in alphabetical order with jockeys in parenthesis: At the Spa (Tyler Baze); Carmen Miranda (Giovanni Franco); Drizella (Juan Hernandez); Gianna's Wild Cat (Jessica Pyfer); Irish Wahine (Abel Cedillo); It's Simple (Mario Gutierrez); Ko Olina (Edwin Maldonado); Lion's Lair (Tiago Pereira) and Madiha (Umberto Rispoli).

Friday's feature is the $200,000 Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, often a stepping stone to the $300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante near the end of the meeting. Bob Baffert, a seven-time Sorrento-winning trainer, has three of the 22 nominees.

Saturday card features the $200,000 Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon and the $200,000 Best Pal. The Yellow Ribbon, at 1 1/16 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, drew a dozen nominees topped by Simon Callaghan-trained Maxim Rate, winner of the Grade I Gamely at Santa Anita in May.

The Best Pal, often an identifier of potential for the $300,000 Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity on closing day of the meeting, has 16 nominations, six of whom have been training outside California.

The week concludes Sunday with the $150,000 Grade 3 La Jolla, the second leg of the series for 3-year-olds, and the $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds.

John Sadler-trained Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World is among 15 nominations for the La Jolla, a return to turf racing for the son of Candy Ride after unsuccessful Triple Crown trail runs in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Fourteen were nominated to the Graduation, among them Luis Mendez-trained Big City Lights, a winner of two starts by a combined 19 ¾ lengths.

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With Laurel Canyon hustled from her rail post, At the Spa was immediately alongside as the two fillies raced as a team into the far turn. With Baze riding confidently, At the Spa shook loose of her competition a furlong out and proved much the best.

“Today, she had to fight it out a little bit and she prevailed,” said Baze, who also won the day's previous race aboard Restrainedvengence in the Grade 3 American Stakes. “She's matured so much from the first race, she's just getting better. It's going to be a bright future for her.”

Off as the second choice at 9-5 among a field of five juvenile fillies, At the Spa paid $5.80, $3.20, and $2.20.

“I really feel excited because this filly really is a big filly,” said Periban. “Since the beginning, I knew she had so much talent, a lot of ability. I told Baze, before she ran, 'I got something for you.' And he believed me because we're a good team. I had a lot of confidence, mucho. I can't say what it was, but it was something in my heart (that) said today's going to be another win.”

Breeder and co-owner Terry Lovingier was thrilled with At the Spa's performance. “It was so exciting watching them come down. Watching two babies that I bred draw off together was very cool. I wasn't sure if the gray filly was going to get to her or not.”

Owned by Lovingier, Tom Beckerle, and Saul Carrillo, At the Spa is by the Uncle Mo stallion Outwork and is out of the Smoke Glacken mare Spa Creek. With today's winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $107,580.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Munny Penny, who loomed ominously while third turning for home, was second-best on the day, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Laurel Canyon. Off at 6-1, Munny Penny paid $4.80 and $2.60.

Laurel Canyon, a California-bred who broke her maiden at first asking at Gulfstream Park May 13, was ridden by Flavien Prat and paid $2.20 to show while off at odds of 8-5.

Fractions for the race were :22.17 for the first quarter and :46.40 for the half-mile.

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“She pretty much showed how good she was first time out, she fell on her head leaving there and picked herself up to still win easily that day,” said winning jockey Tyler Baze. “Today she had to fight it out a little bit and she prevailed. She's matured so much from the first race, she's just getting better. It's going to be a bright future for her.”

Lovingier, who also bred and co-owns Saturday's Melair S. winner Fi Fi Pharoah (American Pharoah), enjoyed watching his two fillies race down the stretch Sunday.

“It was so exciting watching them come down,” Lovingier said. “Watching two babies that I bred draw off together was very cool. I wasn't sure if the gray filly was going get to her or not. We'll be looking forward to the California-bred races at Del Mar. We've also got a lot more babies coming up, so we will try to get them spotted and maybe some of them will find the open stakes levels too.”

FASIG-TIPTON DEBUTANTE S., $100,000, Santa Anita, 6-20, 2yo, f, 5f, :59.79, ft.
1–AT THE SPA, 123, f, 2, by Outwork
                1st Dam: Spa Creek (SP, $368,291), by Smoke Glacken
                2nd Dam: Rutledge Dancer, by Sky Classic
                3rd Dam: Look Who's Dancing, by Affirmed
($37,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTCAYR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN.
O-Tom Beckerle, Saul Carrillo & Terry Lovingier; B-Terry C.
Lovingier (CA); T-Jorge Periban; J-Tyler Baze. $60,000. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $107,580.
2–Munny Penny, 123, f, 2, Munnings–Northern Song, by Animal
Kingdom. ($47,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTCAYR). O/B-Terry C.
Lovingier (CA); T-Walther Solis. $20,000.
3–Laurel Canyon, 123, f, 2, Nyquist–Moon River Gal, by Malibu
Moon. ($135,000 Ylg '20 FTCAYR). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred
Partners & Gary Barber; B-Thomas W. Bachman (CA); T-Peter
Miller. $12,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.90, 6.30, 1.60.
Also Ran: Loveherheart, Royal O'Haigain.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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