Indian Blessing Returns in Santa Ynez

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner and likely champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) will make her three-year-old bow in Sunday's $150,000 Santa Ynez S. (G2) at Santa Anita. The unbeaten Bob Baffert runner will face six rivals in the seven-furlong test with regular rider Garrett Gomez aboard.

An impressive 5 1/4-length debut winner at Saratoga, Indian Blessing rolled to a 4 1/2-length, front-running score in the October 6 Frizette S. (G1) at Belmont Park. The dark bay miss then schooled her rivals on the front end of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, winning by 3 1/2 lengths over the sloppy oval at Monmouth Park. She'll make her first appearance over a synthetic track on Sunday.

"She's never been tested," Baffert commented. "You never really know how good they are until they get tested, but Indian Blessing is a very, very good one."

IZARRA (Distorted Humor) will attempt to make amends for an unplaced showing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Trained by Ron McAnally, the bay filly followed an easy debut maiden special weight victory with a third in the Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) and a second, beaten only a nose, in the Oak Leaf S. (G1) over Santa Anita's Cushion Track. Joseph Talamo, who was aboard for her maiden win at Del Mar, will return to the saddle.

The unbeaten PEISINOE (Yes It's True) will make her stakes bow for Paddy Gallagher. A maiden winner at Santa Anita in late October, the Florida-bred miss exits a two-length tally over allowance/optional claiming rivals at Hollywood Park on December 5. Stakes winners P. S. U. GRAD (Harlan's Holiday) and GOLDEN DOC A (Unusual Heat) are also entered, and NOOK AND GRANNY (Impeachment) will be seeking her first black-type score after finishing second in the Arizona Juvenile Fillies S. at Turf Paradise most recently. Recent maiden winner CHAMPAGNE EYES (Flatter) rounds out the field.

Champagne Eyes drew the rail with Michael Baze and will carry 114 pounds. Next comes Izarra, 114; Indian Blessing, 123; Nook and Granny, Richard Migliore, 114; P. S. U. Grad, David Flores, 121; Peisinoe, Alex Solis, 116; and Golden Doc A, Rafael Bejarano, 123.

-Brisnet Editorial