Buena Vista Preview: Nasty Could Groove On Front End

ARCADIA, CA – If given the chance, LNJ Foxwoods’ Nasty could fall into an unconquerable nasty groove once again in Saturday’s $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.

The Buena Vista is a mile-long turf route restricted to fillies and mares ages 4 and up. This year’s edition is the seventh event on a 9-race card and has a local post time of 3:30 PM.

Here’s a look at the full field for the Buena Vista:

1. Bohemian Bourbon 20/1 – She stretches out to try routing for just the second time in her career after putting together a 10-2-1-2 in turf sprints. She broke from the rail and contested a hot pace in January’s local 6-furlong Las Cienegas Stakes (G3) before fading to cross fifth in her debut for the Michael McCarthy barn, which hits at 18% in graded stakes.

2. Mucho Unusual 7/2 – She finished third by a length in last year’s running behind two next-out winners before catching fire in the summer, taking 3 of her past 4 starts including the Megahertz Stakes (G3). That came over this course and distance last time out, and she won last September’s Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) to earn a shot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

“She’s in good form, so we’re good to go,” trainer Tim Yakteen said. “I’ll take a barnful like her.”

3. Warren’s Showtime 5/1 – She stretches back out to route after finishing a late-running third as the 6/5 favorite in January’s local 6-furlong Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint Stakes against her California-breds. She won last October’s Autumn Miss Stakes (G3) over this course and distance to memorably give trainer Craig Lewis career win #1,000.

“She’s a nice filly,” Lewis said. “She’s a very consistent filly and runs every time.”

4. Nasty 6/1 – She finally displayed her early speed last time out in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes over this course and distance, winning gate to wire over a salty field that included the next-out Endeavour Stakes (G3) victor. If the speedy Richard Baltas trainee can get a similar early lead in her first stakes test against older horses, will anyone be able to catch her?

5. Red Lark 8/1 – She cuts back to a mile after running between 1 1/16 and 1 1/4 miles on the lawn in her past 4 starts, a stretch that includes winning last August’s 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Oaks (G1). While she might ultimately be best running longer, she was second over this course and distance in last June’s Wilshire Stakes (G3), to date her only try against older horses.

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6. Sedamar 8/1 – She returned from a 3-month layoff in the Megahertz and raced from last of 4 to finish second, just 3/4 of a length behind Mucho Unusual. With last-out rider Umberto Rispoli currently serving a suspension, she reunites with Grade 1-winning jockey Ruben Fuentes, who piloted her to a 6-2-2-2 record earlier in her career.

7. Going to Vegas 6/1 – She cuts back to a mile after finishing second in both the 1 3/8-mile Red Carpet Handicap (G3) at Del Mar and the American Oaks last time out. She has a turf mile record of 9-3-3-2, but her last win of any kind came over this course and distance last June when Baltas claimed her for $50k; her record in 6 subsequent starts with her current barn is 0-4-1.

8. Charmaine’s Mia 3/1 – The morning line favorite stretches out for just the second time in her career after she was a strong 2 1/2-length winner in the Las Cienegas. That was her first start for trainer Phil D’Amato, who connects at 14% when his runners go sprint to route. With last-out rider Drayden Van Dyke staying on Red Lark, meet-leading jockey Flavien Prat rides.

9. Sloane Garden 12/1 – She picked a tough, salty spot for her first start since finishing second in a 1-mile route on Golden Gate Fields’ synthetic course last October. She won a pair of 1 1/16-mile stakes over that track’s lawn last summer, but this is a major step up in class. Manny Badilla’s barn wins 21% with horses returning from similar layoffs.

10. Heathers Grey 20/1 – She stretches back out to route after finishing sixth in a local 6 1/2-furlong optional claiming sprint under Jessica Pyfer, who piloted her to a front-running second at that Del Mar against similar. Pyfer retains the mount for trainer Sean McCarthy, who’s had a strong meet from a limited number of starters (7-2-2-1 record through Thursday). 

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