The Salute Stakes

A field of five LA-bred sophomore fillies will meet Friday in the $50.000 Salute Stakes at EVD to be run over a seven-furlong course that is expected to be fast. This will be the third running of the State-bred affair and the second at the reduced purse after the first running was offered at $60.000. That first run was won by Cajun Stables Royal Explorer which went on to amass nearly $700.000 in earnings before being retired. The mare won eight stakes races in her career before being retired earlier this year. Last years running went to Australia Wides Zealous Life as her first of three stakes wins in a career that has seen her finish first or second in nine of ten starts.

This years group is headed by a pair from Triple K whos Vancouver Cow seems a likely top chance having finished first or second in over half her races. This will be the first stakes attempt for the bay daughter of Vancouver-Sunrise Bully which has been impressive in high-dollar claiming events recently. Her stable mate Sweet Carat broke her maiden last out at GG after reeling off four straight in the money.

Sarah Stables stakes-placed Fennel comes into this race off back-to-back allowance wins at TUP and FG, registering sharp SRF 90’s in both and is the likely favourite here. In August of last year the bay filly by Danny Phantom-Sarahs Nala finished third in the Wilhite Memorial at LAD. Team 7 Illusions sends out the consistent Kiva Dunes which has been in the money in all but one race, including places in three stakes races highlighted by a win in the LA Stallion Stakes Fillies at LAD last October. Icegator stables lightly-raced Tiny Pink Panties finished second in an overnighter at EVD last after her first foray into stakes races saw her second in the LA Futurity - Fillies at FG last year,