The $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita on Sunday is a key proving ground for 3-year-old fillies on the road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
The 1 1/16-mile test drew a field of seven, including Super Corredora, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar on Oct. 31 and the even-money favorite on the morning line.
The Oaks prep awards qualifying points on a sliding scale of 50-25-15-10-5, with the 50 points to the winner all but clinching a spot in the field for the May 1 “Lillies for the Fillies.”
Notable past winners include several who went on to become champions or Grade 1 winners. Among them:
Champion Songbird in 2016 dominated by 8½ lengths under Mike Smith for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. She remained undefeated much of her career and earned the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly.
Sweet Catomine, also a champion, took home the win here in her first start after her BC Juvenile Fillies victory for the late trainer Julio Canani.
Eventual Saudi Cup (G1) winner Midnight Bisou set a track record time of 1:41.10 in 2018. She would ultimately be the favorite in the Kentucky Oaks but finished third. She was the champion older dirt female in 2019.
Unique Bella (2017), also trained by Hollendorfer, advanced to win three Grade 1s in her career and earned the Eclipse Award as the 2017 champion female sprinter. She only finished worse than third once in her 12-race career.
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has dominated with 10 winners overall, including the last five in a row. He sends out a pair this year seeking a sixth consecutive win.
Super Corredora figures as the even-money favorite off her status as last year’s BC Juvenile Fillies winner.
A fleet-footed daughter of Gun Runner, she pressed the pace but tired and finished fourth in her sophomore bow, the Feb. 8 Las Vírgenes Stakes (G3) at a mile.
She has since fired a nice 5-furlong work in :59 3/5 on March 1, indicating she’s returning to top form. Expect her to show her trademark early speed or rate just off it from an outside post 6, with the ability to finish strongly if the pace melts. She owns a clear class edge in the field.
Forced Entry (4-1) is one of Baffert’s well-bred pair, this one by Charlatan and purchased for $350,000 as a yearling by the Three Amigos – Pegram, Watson, and Weitman. She showed early speed but faded late in a turf debut, then dominated a Feb. 1 maiden special weight at a mile over this track, wiring the field by 7 1/4 lengths.
Three breezes since keep her sharp, so look for her to stalk or press from mid-pack with jockey Juan Hernandez’s patient handling. She’s a logical threat to upset if the favorite overdoes it early.
French Blue (9-2) is the other Baffert entrant and may offer value if she goes off anywhere near her 9-2 morning line off her impressive Jan. 8 debut win at 6 furlongs by 2 1/4 lengths in a sharp 1:11.21. The Gun Runner filly has posted back-to-back 5-furlong works in :59 and :59 3/5. Baffert first-time dirt/stretch-out types often improve dramatically, so expect a stalking trip under jockey Florent Geroux with tactical speed to sit just behind the leaders and pounce in the lane.
Cee Drew (5-1), trained by Dan Blacker, is the field’s other stakes winner after taking the California Cup Oaks last out. She brings a solid record of two wins from three starts and a rail position that could help her by allowing her to save ground early. Her running style is versatile enough to stalk or close depending on pace, and she’s a live longshot at likely mid-range odds if the top choices falter, though the class jump to open and graded stakes is the question. Armando Ayuso will be aboard.
Piney Woods (15-1) enters off a sharp Feb. 7 maiden special weight victory at 6 1/2 furlongs by four lengths for the Michael McCarthy barn. A Cupid filly with a pedigree that says stretching out is in her wheelhouse, she also has the tactical turn of foot to sit mid-pack or press. We can expect gradual improvement stretching out under jockey Ricardo Gonzelez, but she’ll likely need a perfect trip at longer odds to challenge the proven stakes company.
Bank Shot (12-1), a daughter of Game Winner purchased for $160,000 as a juvenile, showed promise with a credible third in the Las Vírgenes last out after two prior starts this season. The Ryan Hanson trainee projects a one-paced, ground-saving style from just off the rail and will likely appreciate the added distance while sitting behind what should be a solidly contested pace. She is a logical longshot underneath horse with Adrian Escobedo aboard.
My Love Caroline (10-1) rounds out the field as the longest morning-line shot for trainer Jorge Periban. The Stay Thirsty filly crossed the wire first by a nose in the 2025 California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes but was disqualified to fourth after a bumping incident at the break. This California-bred with limited stakes experience is a mid-pack runner to deep closer from the outermost post, but will likely struggle to get past the top contenders. Recent form is light compared to this group, making her a classic longshot needing a complete class meltdown to factor.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
