2022 Soviet Problem Stakes Preview & FREE Picks | Undefeated Cast Member Stretches Out

Dr. Miranda previews the 2022 Soviet Problem Stakes from Los Alamitos, then gives his top picks & long shots. Undefeated sprinter Cast Member is 1 of 3 entries stretching out in this early-card test for California-bred juvenile fillies. Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The track press release:

Perfect in two starts for owner-breeder George Krikorian and trainer Tim Yakteen, Cast Member will stretch to a mile for the first time in the $100,000-guaranteed Soviet Problem Stakes Sunday at Los Alamitos.

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

Part of the Golden State Series, the Soviet Problem is the third of nine races. Post time Sunday is 12:30 p.m. Scheduled post time for the main event is 1:30 p.m.

A daughter of Munnings and the Artie Schiller mare Be My Baby, Cast Member graduated by three lengths in her debut Sept. 3 at Del Mar, then stepped into stakes company and stretched out an eighth of a mile to win the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile Fillies eight weeks later. She’s earned $153,000.

Big Celebration, also bred by Kirkorian, will return to the scene of her seven-length maiden victory for owner William R. Peeples and trainer Luis Mendez after trailing in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies.

A $100,000 yearling purchase, Big Celebration, a Mr. Big filly out of the City Zip mare Misszippityslewda, has banked $38,300 while winning once in three starts.

Grazed My Heart, a last-out graduate at the Soviet Problem distance for trainer Jeff Mullins and the Mark and Patricia Cofer Trust and the Webb Family Trust, will move to dirt in her Los Alamitos debut. She was bred by Cicero Farms LLC & Batchelor Family Trust.

A gray daughter of Grazen and the Scat Daddy mare Daddy’s Duo, Grazed My Heart has been worse than third only once in five starts and banked $68,020. In her lone try on the main track, she was second in a $50,000 maiden claimer at 5 ½ furlongs when tagged from John Sadler.

The maiden Loyal to a Fault, who finished four lengths behind Grazed My Heart when second Nov. 20 at Del Mar, will return to dirt after four consecutive races on grass.

Owned and bred by J. Paul Reddam’s Reddam Racing LLC and trained by Leandro Mora, the Nyquist filly out of the Creative Cause mare Cause We Are Loyal has earned $48,453 in six appearances.

An easy gate-to-wire winner going six furlongs on turf Nov. 5 at Santa Anita, Cocktail Princess will try more yardage in her return to Los Alamitos. She was bred by Terry Lovingier.

Owned by 4004 Biscayne LLC, David A. Bernsen LLC, Todd Cady, Jeffrey Lambert, William Moore and Peter Underhill and trained by George Papaprodromou, the daughter of Stay Thirsty and the Smoke Glacken mare One Smokin’ Lady has not been worse than third in six races with earnings of $90,660.

She was third as the 4-5 favorite during the Los Angeles County Fair meet June 26 one race before she was claimed for $50,000 by her current connections from trainer Steve Knapp.

From inside out, the field for the Soviet Problem Stakes:

1. Big Celebration, Edwin Maldonado rides, 117 pounds
2. Grazed My Heart, Hector Berrios, 117
3. Cocktail Princess, Kyle Frey, 117
4. Cast Member, Ramon Vazquez, 121
5. Loyal to a Fault, Mario Gutierrez, 117