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La Brea Top Two Begin 2023 Campaigns in Santa Monica

Awake At Midnyte has started in eight graded stakes races, including three grade 1s.

Fun to Dream defeats Awake At Midnyte in the 2022 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Fun to Dream defeats Awake At Midnyte in the 2022 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Benoit Photo

Fun to Dream and Awake At Midnyte, separated by three-quarters of a length when 1-2 in the Dec. 26 La Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, square off as 4-year-olds against four other rivals in the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) Feb. 4.

The Santa Monica, like the La Brea, is a seven-furlong sprint over Santa Anita's main track. The race differs from the La Brea in being open to females ages 4 and up, while the La Brea was restricted to 3-year-old fillies of 2022.

Five of the six competitors are 4-year-olds, all but Kirk and Judy Robison's 6-year-old Samurai Charm, a three-time stakes winner.

Although Fun to Dream got the better of Awake At Midnyte in their last matchup—launching an earlier bid to wrest command in the stretch and holding off the latter's determined stretch charge—the two appear evenly matched. When they met in an allowance optional claimer Sept. 4 at Del Mar, Awake At Midnyte led Fun to Dream by 3 1/4 lengths at the finish. (Fun to Dream was disqualified and demoted by stewards from second to ninth for veering into rivals early in that race.)

Bob Baffert trains Fun to Dream, whom he bred with Connie Pageler in California. Pageler owns the gray Arrogate filly with Baffert's wife, Jill. Fun to Dream leads the field with earnings of $426,590, accomplished in winning five of six starts. She is the second stakes winner for her dam, who also produced Heck Yeah (Acclamation ), an earner of more than $397,000.

Fun to Dream is 3-for-3 racing seven-eighths of a mile and has leading rider Juan Hernandez. The probable favorite totes 124 pounds, spotting her five rivals from two to four pounds apiece. She beat Awake At Midnyte in the La Brea when each carried 120. 

Video

Reddam Racing's Awake At Midnyte lacks the win record of Fun to Dream, being 2-4-1 in 10 starts with a $329,675 bankroll, but has started in eight graded stakes, including three grade 1s.

Besides the 2022 La Brea, she placed in the Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3T) at 2 in 2021, and last year in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2), Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2), and Zenyatta Stakes (G2) for trainer Doug O'Neill. She has yet to notch a graded stakes victory.

Mario Gutierrez, her jockey throughout her career, returns.

Awake At Midnyte is a daughter of Nyquist , who won the 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) for these connections.

The field also includes the John Shirreffs-trained Lady T, who captured the Las Flores Stakes (G3) Dec. 31 at Santa Anita, going six furlongs under jockey Victor Espinoza. Disappointing in that race as the 6-5 favorite was Samurai Charm, who settled for fourth. The latter is 0-0-1 in four starts at Santa Anita vs. 7-2-1 in 10 starts elsewhere. Flavien Prat rides for trainer Peter Miller.

The field is completed by Anacapa, seventh in the Las Flores, and quick-returning Angel Nadeshiko, fourth in the Jan. 15 La Canada Stakes (G3). Both have the speed to sit close to a projected slow early pace, as do Fun to Dream and Samurai Charm.

The Santa Monica is one of four stakes Saturday at Santa Anita, carded as the ninth race on a 10-race card that begins at noon PT.

Entries: Santa Monica S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, February 4, 2023, Race 9

  • Grade II
  • 7f
  • Dirt
  • $200,000
  • 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 4:23 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
11Anacapa (KY)John R. Velazquez120Carla Gaines15/1
22Fun to Dream (CA)Juan J. Hernandez124Bob Baffert8/5
33Samurai Charm (KY)Flavien Prat120Peter Miller4/1
44Angel Nadeshiko (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateMike E. Smith120Patrick Gallagher8/1
55Awake At Midnyte (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateMario Gutierrez120Doug F. O'Neill5/2
66Lady T (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateVictor Espinoza122John A. Shirreffs3/1