|03.09.2023|6:09pm
Irish-bred Duvet Day and jockey Kazushi Kimura winning the Astra Stakes
One-two finishers when last they met, Irish-bred Duvet Day and Queen Ofthe Temple head a field of nine older fillies and mares going 1 1/4 miles on turf in the Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes this Sunday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
Far back early going 1 1/2 miles on turf in the ungraded Astra Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 21, Duvet Day, under patient handling from Kuzushi Kimura, swung wide turning for home and won going away by 1 ¼ lengths in a very impressive win at odds of 13-1.
Trained by Michael McCarthy and owned by the estate of Burt Bacharach, Jane Bacharach and Richard Schatz, Duvet Day earned a career-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Astra and will hope to be as effective cutting back in distance a quarter of a mile on Sunday with the talented Kimura riding for the third consecutive time.
A 4-year-old filly, Duvet Day, who was second in her first two starts in Ireland prior to joining McCarthy’s stable in the fall of 2021, ran an even eighth, beaten seven lengths, two starts back in the G1 American Oaks, which was her only try at 1 1/4 miles on turf. With an overall mark of 13-3-3-1, she has earnings of $178,313.
Off at 5-2, Queen Ofthe Temple was attentive to the Astra pace, made the lead turning for home, but was no match for Duvet Day late, finishing second by 1 ¼ lengths under Juan Hernandez, who rides back on Sunday. Trained by Dan Blacker, Queen Ofthe Temple is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare who has been very consistent in Southern California starts for owners Radley Equine, Inc., Roger Featherston, Rick Gold, and Tony Maslowski.
Sixth, beaten only 2 ¾ lengths three races back going 1 1/4 miles on turf in the G1 Rodeo Drive Oct. 8 at Santa Anita, Queen Ofthe Temple was third, beaten 4 ½ lengths two starts back in the G3 Red Carpet Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar Nov. 24. With an overall mark of 11-1-5-3, she has earnings of $157,840.
In what was her U.S. debut, Australia Mia was off as the 8-5 favorite in the Astra and was forwardly placed throughout but tired to finish third, beaten 3 ½ lengths with Frankie Dettori, who rides back in the Santa Ana. A two-time Group 2 winner in Chile, Kentucky-bred Australia Mia is trained by McCarthy and is certainly eligible to move up on Sunday with a recent race to her credit. A 5-year-old mare by Street Sense who is owned by her breeder, Don Alberto Corporation, Australia Mia is 20-9-2-4 overall with two wins from four tries at the Santa Ana distance.
GRADE II SANTA ANA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT
Annaghlasa—Ramon Vazquez–120
Queen Ofthe Temple—Juan Hernandez—120
Australia Mia—Lanfranco Dettori—124
Ascendancy—Luis Contreras—120
Duvet Day—Kazushi Kimura—122
Myfavoritedaughter—Joe Bravo—120
Buzz of New York—Umberto Rispoli—120
Harper’s Gallop—John Velazquez—120
Ballet Dancing—Flavien Prat–120
First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.
