How to bet the 2021 Santa Maria Stakes

A compact field of five fillies and mares will square off in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Maria S. (G2) at Santa Anita. Headlined by two of the top distaffers on the West Coast, the 1 1/16-mile affair is sure to be an exciting showdown.

Two-time Grade 1 queen #4 Ce Ce was a fantastic allowance winner on the surface when making her five-year-old debut for McCarthy. By Elusive Quality, the chestnut mare waited patiently for room in the seven-furlong tussle, and she exploded when finding a seam in the lane to win going away.

The Kentucky-bred possesses good positional speed and a fine 6-4-1-1 mark at Santa Anita, and she drilled a bullet six-furlong drill in anticipation of her second assignment of the season, as well. Victor Espinoza will ride the classy lass, and I am thankful Ce Ce was kept in training for this campaign.

The blue-blooded #5 As Time Goes By has exploded onto the scene in a short period of time for Baffert, and the daughter of American Pharoah is surely running to her lofty catalog page. A maiden winner in December, the four-year-old has since finished second to Swiss Skydiver in the Beholder Mile S. (G1), which preceded a runaway score in the Santa Margarita S. (G2) last time out. The budding superstar will prompt the pace with Mike Smith in the silks.

It is hard to look past the top-two betting options for the exacta, so tabbing the third-place finisher might be where the most value lies in this particular event. #3 Miss Stormy D will be the third choice and deservedly so for Carla Gaines, but I don’t like her running style in this spot. The talented lass could be left behind at the top of the lane and run down inside the final furlong.

#2 This Tea finished a distant second in the Santa Margarita S. (G2), and she can enhance her value a good deal with a Grade-1 placing. Chestnut daughter of Curlin is not a win threat against this field, but she is capable of showing a nice turn of foot on her best day. And I envision a scenario where she picks up third late without threatening the top duo. Kent Desormeaux returns to the silks.

Santa Maria Wagers

• $20 trifecta: 4 with 5 with 2 ($20)
• $10 trifecta: 5 with 4 with 2 ($10)