2023 Surfer Girl Stakes Preview | Soho Seems Super Strong Stretching Out At Santa Anita Park

                An impressive first-out maiden winner sprinting on turf, John Sadler’s Soho looks like the horse to beat in Sunday’s Grade III, $200,000 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita. 

                To be contested at one mile on grass, the Surfer Girl has attracted a field of 10 juvenile fillies.

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                Off at 4-1 versus nine rivals going five furlongs on turf Sept. 8 at Del Mar, Soho rallied cleverly from mid-pack and given her running style first time out, should stretch out effectively with Umberto Rispoli back in the saddle.

                A $625,000 Keeneland September Yearling by City of Light out of the Empire Maker mare Keri Belle, Soho is owned by Talla Racing, LLC and West Point Thoroughbreds.

                Golden Gate Fields-based trainer O.J. Jauregui would appear to have the quickest filly in the lineup in Dreamfyre, a two-time stakes winner on dirt who took both the 5 ½ furlong Everett Nevin at Pleasanton July 9 and the Grade III Sorrento going six furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 12 in gate to wire fashion by an identical 3 ½ lengths.

                By the Scat Daddy stallion Flameaway out of the Sky Mesa mare Appreciating, Dreamfyre sold for $140,000 out of an Ocala, FLA 2-year-old in training sale this past April and is owned by Danny Eplin.

                With Hector Berrios back aboard, he’ll try to ration Dreamfyre’s brilliant speed on a new surface as she stretches out for the first time in her third start.

                Off at 35-1 in her 5 ½ furlong debut on dirt Aug. 13 at Del Mar, trainer Val Brinkerhoff’s Where’s My Ring far outran her odds, rallying from off the pace, opening up by 1 ½ lengths only to finish second, beaten a nose. 

                Although she stretches out and tries turf for the first time, this filly by Twirling Candy more than tipped her hand first time out and would be no major surprise in Sunday’s Surfer Girl.

                Owned by Michael McMillan, Where’s My Ring, who is out of the Tapit mare Mapit, will be ridden back by Victor Espinoza.

THE GRADE III SURFER GIRL WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 10  Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

1. Putt for Dough – Mario Gutierrez – 120
2. Flattery – Juan Hernandez – 124
3. Dreamfyre – Hector Berrios – 120
4. Buttercream Babe – Ramon Vazquez – 120
5. Loterie – Tiago Pereira – 118
6. Soho – Umberto Rispoli- 120
7. Angiolleta – Antonio Fresu – 122
8. Where’s My Ring – Victor Espinoza – 118
9. Zona Verde – Joe Bravo – 122
10. Sushi Sticks – Abel Cedillo – 122  

                First post time for a 10-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. with admission gates opening at 11 a.m.