ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2025) – Five of the top six finishers in the Dec. 8 Soviet Problem Stakes, including winner Hey Jessie, are entered in the rescheduled $175,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday, Jan. 18 at Santa Anita.
Tequilaandtherapy is by Mrazek, out of the In Excess mare Chexcess, was bred by Reddam Racing, is owned by Here We Go Brothers and is trained by Doug O’Neill. She has two wins in seven starts, earnings of $176,067 and is coming off a third in a Dec. 8 Soviet Problem.
Sunset Grazen is by Grazen, out of the Slew’s Tiznow mare Sausalito Sunset, was bred by Legacy Ranch and is owned by by trainer Samuel Calvario. She has two wins in four starts, earnings of $61,680 and is coming off a win in the Dec. 7 Golden Gate Debutante Stakes.
We the Hobby is by Om, out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare American Farrah, was bred by trainer Peter Miller and is owned by Altamira Stable. She is a maiden making her fifth start with earnings of $29,780 and is coming off a second in a Dec. 29 maiden special weight.
Chilly Philly is by Frosted, out of the Distorted Humor mare Estelle, was bred by PT Syndicate #1, is owned by Brown, Edward Rusty J., Klein, Alan P. and Lebherz, Philip and trained by Tim Yakteen. She has one win in four starts, earnings of $34,900 and is coming off a sixth in the Dec. 8 Soviet Problem.
Big Soiree is by Mr. Big, out of the Tapizar mare Silver Soiree, was bred by owner Paradox Stable and is trained by Jorge Bautista. She has two wins in five starts, earnings of $56,658 and is coming off a third in the Dec. 7 Golden Gate Debutante.
Less is More is by Nyquist, out of the Jimmy Creed mare Blame the Agent, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Doug O’Neill. She is a maiden making her fifth start with earnings of $26,580.
In the Air Tonight is by Stay Thirsty, out of the Sky Mesa mare Angel Allie, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Chacon, Anthony J., Flores, Victor M. and Lovingier, Terry C. and trained by Steve Knapp. She has two wins in six starts, earnings of $161,400 and is coming off a second in the Dec. 8 Soviet Problem.
Pavel is Appealing is by Pavel, out of the Distorted Humor mare Almost Guilty, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Doug O’Neill. She has two wins in three starts, earnings of $88,500 and is coming off a win in a Dec. 1 optional claimer.
Grateful My Love is by Danzing Candy, out of the Include mare Miss Georgie Gal, was bred by W. Thomas Clark, is owned by Sweetwater Stable, Drew, Gary S., Gaudreau, Christopher D., Haramoto, Doreen, Kung, Tomhanks, Lloyd, Patrick Devon, Tange, Rodney R. and Yamamoto, Gregory and trained by Michael McCarthy. She is a maiden making her fourth start with earnings of $40,330.
Hey Jessie is by Grazen, out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Bea’s Tizzy, was bred by owner SayJay Racing and is trained by Sean McCarthy. She has two wins in three starts, earnings of $95,640 and is coming off a win in the Dec. 8 Soviet Problem.
“I was pretty confident she would run well,” McCarthy told DRF.com, citing two factors. “She trains well on the dirt [at Santa Anita], and as everyone knows, [Los Alamitos] tends to favor grass horses. “We’re going into the race as happy as I can be about it. She’s still growing. She’s still learning how to run, she’s still a bit green down the lane.”
Take Another Card is by I’ll Have Another, out of the Lookin At Lucky mare You Missed It, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Simon Callaghan. She won her lone start Dec. 29 with earnings of $36,000.
Miso Phansy is by Karakontie, out of the Souvenir Copy mare Sandy Cheeks, was bred by Ciaglia Racing, is owned by Ciaglia Racing and Robin Christensen and trained by Leonard Powell. She has one win in two starts, earnings of $46,800 and is coming off Jan. 4 maiden win.
Musical Number is an also-eligible by Uptown Rythem, out of the Singletary mare Logical Single, was bred by owner Harris Farms and is trained by Dean Pederson. She has two wins in three starts, earnings of $39,920 and is coming off a fifth in the Dec. 8 Soviet Problem.