Jolie Olimpica Faces Eleven, Including Lady Prancealot, In Grade 2 Buena Vista

Jockey Mike Smith guides Jolie Olimpica to the winner’s circle after their victory in the Grade III, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes, Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.© BENOIT PHOTO

Ultra impressive in her U.S. debut, Brazilian-bred Jolie Olimpica seeks to remain unbeaten as she heads a field of 12 older fillies and mares going one mile on turf in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita.

Recent Grade I winner Lady Prancealot, Grade III winner Carressa, and recent graded stakes-placed fillies La Sardane and Mucho Unusual all lend tremendous depth to what figures to be an enticing betting race on Saturday.

JOLIE OLIMPICA

Owner: Fox Hill Farms, Inc.
Trainer: Richard Mandella

A Group I winner going one mile on turf in her final Brazilian start on June 9, 2019, this 4-year-old daughter of Drosselmeyer was off as the 6-5 favorite in the Grade III Las Cienegas Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs on turf Jan. 11 and despite bobbling at the break, sat a close second to the far turn and won easily, prevailing by 1 ¼ lengths under Mike Smith, who rides back on Saturday. Favored while unbeaten in all four of her career starts, Jolie Olimpica, who earned a Buena Vista-best 101 Beyer Speed figure in the Las Cienegas, has the look of a budding superstar for Mandella.

LADY PRANCEALOT

Owner: Craig Arntz, Josie Durando, Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone & Jerry McClanahan
Trainer: Richard Baltas

This 4-year-old Irish-bred filly exhibited an impressive turn of foot in winning the Grade I American Oaks at 1 ¼ miles on turf Dec. 28 as the 8-5 favorite under Joe Bravo, who has ridden her to two consecutive wins. A Grade III stakes winner going 1 1/16 miles on turf two starts back at Keeneland Oct. 18, Lady Prancealot has one win and three seconds at a flat mile turf as she seeks her third consecutive victory on Saturday with eastern-based Bravo back in town to ride.

CARRESSA

Owner: Mercedes Stables, LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy Ingordo & Steve Mooney
Trainer: John Shirreffs

Keen early, this 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly made the lead approaching the quarter pole and prevailed by three quarters of a length going one mile on turf in the Grade III Megahertz Stakes here on Jan. 20, which was her first start on grass. An imposing physical specimen, Carressa, who refused to be passed on the gallop out around the Club House turn, was an emphatic 8 ¼ length allowance winner on dirt two starts back at Del Mar Nov. 22 and should only improve in her second grass try on Saturday. A winner of three out of her six starts, she’s a rapidly improving horse for Shirreffs.

LA SARDANE

Owner: Team Valor International
Trainer: Neil Drysdale

A 6-year-old French-bred mare, she comes off a solid third, beaten one length by Carressa in the Grade III Megahertz, a race in which she was moving well just in behind the winner around the far turn. A winner of three out of her first four starts for Drysdale, including a Grade III win at Belmont Park on June 7, 2018, La Sardane has been winless in her last seven starts but appears to be coming to her best in what will be her 19^th career start. A Group II winner at a mile on turf in her final French start on June 4, 2017, La Sardane is 18-5-3-2 overall with earnings of $352,073.

MUCHO UNUSUAL

Owner: George Krikorian
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Bred in California by her owner, this 4-year-old filly by Mucho Macho Man may’ve been unlucky to lose the opening day Grade I American Oaks, as Joel Rosario was forced to steady sharply coming by the Grandstand the first time around. Despite being shuffled back, Mucho Unusual was attentive to the pace, made the lead three sixteenth of a mile out and finished second by a half length to Lady Prancealot. The lone Cal-bred in the field, Mucho Unusual, who took the Grade II San Clemente Stakes five starts back this past July at Del Mar, rates an upset chance with Rosario riding back in the Buena Vista.

THE GRADE II BUENA VISTA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 5 of 9 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

Jolie Olimpica—Mike Smith—122
Carressa—Victor Espinoza—122
Muchly—Umberto Rispoli—120
Mucho Unusual—Joel Rosario—122
Sold It—Mario Gutierrez—120
Meal Ticket—Tiago Pereira—120
Brill—Geovanni Franco—120
Lady Prancealot—Joe Bravo–124
Super Patriot—Ruben Fuentes—120
La Sardane—Flavien Prat—120
Keeper Ofthe Stars—Abel Cedillo—122
Tiny Tina—Drayden Van Dyke—120

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m., with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

READ NEWS SOURCE