Brilliantly Leads Baffert La Canada Trio

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert looks to score for a sixth time in the $100,000 La Canada Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park with a trio of runners. The race runs at 1 1/16 miles on the main track for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up. Baffert is represented by the 7-5 morning-line favorite Brilliantly, who was a recent fourth in the La Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. The Three Amigos purchased the 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo for $500,000 during the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale out of the Warrendale Sales consignment. Owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Brilliantly will be stretching out longer than a mile for the first time in her career and looks to improve from her only off-the-board finish from four career starts. After breaking her maiden in her second start, Brilliantly ran in an allowance race at Del Mar where she placed third as the post-time favorite. Brilliantly will be ridden by Juan Hernandez. The other Baffert entries are Nafisa, who is trying to make it three wins in a row and comes into the race off an allowance win; and, Ooty (ARG), who won the Jorge de Atucha (G1) in Argentina and was third in the Las Flores Stakes (G3) last out at Santa Anita. Nafisa will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura, and Ooty will be ridden by Tiago Pereira. The 9-5 second choice, So There She Was looks to overhaul the Baffert crew. Trained by Doug O'Neill, the 4-year-old daughter of Munnings won the Sept. 28 Remington Park Oaks at Remington Park. Since then, she ran fourth her most recent route start in the 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose Stakes (G2) and finished sixth last time out in the La Brea. Owned by Great Friends Stables, Tropical Racing, and Mark Davis, So There She Was broke her maiden on her third try before running third in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) at Del Mar. Completing the field of six is Jane Austen, who was fourth in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) last out at Del Mar, and Fugitive Star, who recently won an allowance race at Turf Paradise. The La Canada is the headline of a nine race card at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, Jan. 24. Carded as the eighth race, it goes to post at 4:04 p.m. PST/7:04 p.m. EST.