Sugarinthemorning out for revenge against Teddy’s Promise in the Santa Monica Stakes
The newly turned 4-year-old filly, Sugarinthemorning, has a date with her Grade 1 La Brea Stakes' tormentor, Teddy’s Promise, in the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes on 28 January, 2012, at Santa Anita Park, over a distance of seven furlongs.
The race will be run over the venue’s synthetic surface, and it will be exclusive for 4-year-old and above fillies, in a field of seven fillies and mares.
Trained by Ronald L. McAnally for owners, Weissman and Clement, Teddy's Promise's team is of the view that when the California bred filly comes out to race after a little gap, she usually performs best.
“I thought she ran pretty well last time,” said Dan Landers, an assistant to trainer Ron McAnally.
“She does well with time between her races and we’re hoping she moves forward off of that race. It was the first time she’d ever run on this (dirt) track, really.”
The California bred daughter of Candy Ride, out of mare Social Belle by In Excess, Sugarinthemorning had her last start in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes on 31 December, 2011, at about seven furlongs at Santa Anita.
The race was by far the best performance for the filly against graded stakes company, where she finished powerfully behind Teddy’s Promise in second, defeating the Brazilian bred 4-year-old filly, Great Hot, in third.
In 2011, Sugarinthemorning had two wins out of seven starts, and those two wins came back to back, starting with a win in her debut stakes race for the season, the Manhattan Beach Stakes on turf at Hollywood Park, going over a distance of six furlongs on 18 June, 2011, under her regular rider, Patrick Valenzuela.
Sugarinthemorning downed the likes of Mizdirection in second, and Fifth Commandment in third, while covering the distance in 1 minute and 9.18 seconds.
She was then pointed towards the Fleet Treat Stakes at Del Mar over seven furlongs, and for the first time in three starts, she was going to run over the poly track on 30 July, 2011.
She gladly took the opportunity and converted it into a victory, keeping the fast approaching Magic School at bay in second, and Zenidekka in third.
The Grade 1 Santa Monica will again be a stern test for Sugarinthemorning, but after her performance in the La Brea Stakes, it seems she will take her revenge and win the most important graded stakes' race of her career.
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