From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2023) – Loretta Lynn, a first-out winner Oct. 29 at Santa Anita, will stretch out to one mile in the $100,000-guaranteed Soviet Problem Stakes Sunday at Los Alamitos.
Restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred or sired in California, the Soviet Problem attracted six entrants.
Part of the Golden State Series, the Soviet Problem is the last of nine races. Post time Sunday is 12:30 p.m. Approximate post time for the main event is 4:30 p.m.
Owned by breeder Nick Alexander and trained by Phil D’Amato, Loretta Lynn, a daughter of Grazen and the Tribal Rule mare Sunday Rules, pressed the pace, then drew clear in the final eighth of a mile to win by 2 ¼ lengths in her debut at six furlongs.
The victory was worth $36,600 and Loretta Lynn has returned to work four times since the score.
Asada Fries will try to go back-to-back for owner-breeder Legacy Ranch, Inc. and trainer Craig Lewis after graduating on grass in her fifth start Nov. 23 at Del Mar.
The daughter of Clubhouse Ride and the In Excess mare Salty Fries won as the 3-2 favorite at the Soviet Problem distance. She’s banked $75,760.
A distant second at 48-1 behind Grand Slam Smile in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Nov. 3, Petit Filet will try two turns for the first time for trainer Alfred Vuocolo.
Bred by Reddam Racing and owned by a partnership that includes Victor Rodas III, Holly Rodas and Oscar Garcia, the Pavel filly earned her win going 6 ½ furlongs Sept. 30. Asada Fries was second as the 2-1 choice in that race.
Petit Filet, who is out of the Momentum mare Charred Rare, has banked $70,350 in three appearances.
Fifth in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies, Putt for Dough will be trying to end a four-race losing streak for owner-breeder Reddam Racing LLC and trainer Antonio Garcia.
The daughter of Nyquist and the Distorted Humor mare Almost Guilty hasn’t finished better than fourth since clicking in her debut at five furlongs July 22. She’s earned $69,200.
Owned by breeder Harris Farms, John Cavalli, Mark Stanton and Stephanie Wedge and trained by Jeff Bonde, Fly a Fantasy also hasn’t won since easily prevailing as the 4-5 choice in her April 29 bow at Santa Anita.
The Smiling Tiger filly out of the Desert Code mare Almost Reality has been off the board in two of three since, most recently checking in seventh of 10 in the Golden State Juvenile. She’s banked $57,100.
Trainer Peter Miller, who won the 2018 Soviet Problem with Kookie Gal, will be represented by Madison Rae, who also was bred by Reddam Racing.
A Pavel filly out of the Scat Daddy mare Taffeta, Madison Rae, who is owned by CYBT, Rafter JR Ranch LLC, STD Racing Stable and Michael Nentwig, will try two turns after a wide trip sixth in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies. She’s 1-for-3 with earnings of $49,940.
From inside out, the field for the Soviet Problem Stakes: Madison Rae, Edwin Maldonado rides, 117 pounds; Petit Filet, Ricardo Ramirez, 123; Asada Fries, Joel Rosario, 123; Loretta Lynn, Juan Hernandez, 117; Fly a Fantasy, Kyle Frey, 117 and Putt for Dough, Mario Gutierrez, 117.