Without the presence of Iscreamuscream, familiar rivals Medoro and Zona Verde will each have a fair shake at taking the prize in the Oct. 27 $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Park.
C R K Stable's Medoro has gotten the better of Zona Verde in three of their last four meetings, though both fillies finished behind Iscreamuscream in the San Clemente Handicap (G2T) and Del Mar Oaks (G1T). Trained by Peter Eurton, the daughter of Honor Code exits a runner-up effort in the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Oaks, where she appeared to lack the same late kick she had displayed when capturing the China Doll and Providencia Stakes (G3T) earlier in the season.
Unraced since the Aug. 17 Del Mar Oaks, a fresher Medoro lines up for battle under regular rider Antonio Fresu. In her time away from the races she has lit up the work tab, turning in three consecutive bullet works over the Santa Anita oval, including a :46 half-mile Oct. 13.
Zona Verde, one of three entered Sunday for trainer Phil D'Amato, should relish the return to a mile in the Autumn Miss. A hard-luck fifth last time going 6 1/2 furlongs down the hill in the Unzip Me Stakes after throwing her head at the start, Zona Verde has been the model of consistency for her connections. A grade 3 winner as a 2-year-old, the Calyx filly has won or hit the board in five stakes.
Leading rider Juan Hernandez retains the mount.
D'Amato will also saddle Asean, a stakes winner in Ireland who makes her first start since an 11th-place finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T), and Circle of Trust, winner of the Honeymoon Stakes (G3T) two starts back.
Trainer Richard Mandella has two entries in the Autumn Miss. MKW Racing's Wine On Tap adds blinkers and tries turf for the first time. She placed in the 2023 Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park when in the barn of Todd Pletcher. LNJ Foxwoods' Mixologist makes her first start for Mandella after transferring from trainer Brad Cox.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, October 27, 2024, Race 7Entries: Autumn Miss S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Zona Verde (IRE) Juan J. Hernandez 124 Philip D'Amato 4/1 2 2Asean (IRE) Kazushi Kimura 120 Philip D'Amato 15/1 3 3Wine On Tap (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 120 Richard E. Mandella 8/1 4 4Tahini (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux 120 George Papaprodromou 10/1 5 5Mixologist (KY) Mike E. Smith 120 Richard E. Mandella 12/1 6 6Medoro (KY) Antonio Fresu 124 Peter Eurton 8/5 7 7Tiaraqueen (GB) Jose Valdivia, Jr. 120 Patrick Gallagher 30/1 8 8Sneaker (CA) Victor Espinoza 120 George Papaprodromou 8/1 9 9Circle of Trust (KY) Umberto Rispoli 124 Philip D'Amato 15/1 10 10Watchtower (KY) Diego A. Herrera 120 Richard Baltas 20/1 11 11Esprit Enchante (KY) Tyler Baze 120 Peter Miller 15/1 12 12Sea Dancer (KY) Armando Ayuso 120 Tim Yakteen 30/1
