ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 16, 2016) – Velvet Mesquite and Qiaona, first two finishers in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint, square off again in Saturday’s $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
Demonica is by First Defence, out of the Lion Hearted mare Storm Hearted, was bred by Lee and Susan Searing, is owned by CRK Stable and is trained by Peter Eurton. She has two wins in 11 starts, earnings of $98,982 and is coming off a fifth in a Feb. 12 optional claimer. She was fifth in this race last year.
Nite Delite is by War Chant, out of the Mountain Cat mare One Tough Cat, was bred by Angel Crest Farm, is owned by F. Jack Liebau and is trained by Art Sherman. She has three wins in 10 starts, earnings of $124,390 and is coming off a Feb. 11 allowance win.
Smoove It is by Square Eddie, out of the Distorted Humor mare Smoove, was bred by owner Reddam Racing and is trained by Doug O’Neill. She has four wins in 22 starts, earnings of $278,575 and is coming off an eighth in the Feb. 20 Buena Vista.
Qiaona is by Wilko, out of the Skywalker mare Starlet Sky, was bred by B&B Zietz Stables, is owned by Curt & Lila Lanning and is trained by Ed Moger Jr. She has seven wins in 32 starts, earnings of $615,643 and is coming off a second in the Jan. 30 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint.
Velvet Mesquite is by In Excess, out of the Huddle Up mare Mesquite, was bred by owner Harris Farms and is trained by Blake Heap. She has six wins in 19 starts, earnings of $433,446 and is coming off a win in the Jan. 30 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint. She was third in this race last year.