Life Talk back in action in Suncoast; take two for Las Virgenes

Feb 08, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Since torrential rain forced Santa Anita to cancel the Feb. 4 card, the Las Virgenes (G3) was transferred to Feb. 10. That makes for a Road to the Kentucky Oaks double-header on Saturday, with the Suncoast S. kicking off the stakes action at Tampa Bay Downs.

The Suncoast, at one mile and 40 yards, and the one-mile Las Virgenes are each worth points on the 20-10-6-4-2 scale to the top five eligible finishers.

Scheduled as Tampa’s fifth race (2:27 p.m. ET), on the Sam F. Davis (G3) undercard, the Suncoast features Demoiselle (G2) heroine Life Talk. The Todd Pletcher filly has collected 19 Oaks points so far, from her third in the Frizette (G1), fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and breakthrough in the Dec. 2 Demoiselle last time out at Aqueduct.

Although Life Talk had everything her own way that day, as the pacesetter on a speed-favoring surface, the daughter of Gun Runner is tactically versatile. She’s the one to beat here with a substantial class edge.

Hall of Fame Trainer Todd Pletcher notches his 4th consecutive Demoiselle victory and a record 9th overall with Life Talk.

The 2-year-old daughter of Gun Runner sits tied for 2nd with 19pts on the Road to the #KyOaks. pic.twitter.com/MZQAziQHa4

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 4, 2023

Her five Suncoast rivals are all newcomers to an Oaks scoring race. Power Squeeze, the only other stakes winner in the field, has dominated both starts since stretching out to a mile. After romping in a Delaware Park maiden, the Jorge Delgado trainee rolled by five lengths in the Cash Run S. at Gulfstream Park. Gorgeous Girl also has stakes experience as the closing second in the Jan. 13 Gasparilla S. at this track.

The remaining trio are stepping up from Tampa maiden wins. America’s Vow, closely related to 2017 Suncoast victress Tapa Tapa Tapa, crushed a course-and-distance maiden for the same trainer, Tim Hamm. Shug McGaughey sends out Whocouldaskformo, a well-bred Uncle Mo filly who was similarly convincing, albeit in a much slower contest at this trip. The Suncoast promises to unfold at a faster clip, thanks to Managing Mischief, another Hamm runner who just wired a six-furlong maiden.

The Las Virgenes was redrawn on Wednesday, and the three premier contenders – unbeaten Santa Ynez (G3) queen Kopion, smashing debut winner Kinza, and Starlet (G2) romper Nothing Like You – are again set to clash.

The Richard Mandella-trained Kopion makes her first start at a mile, following two blowout scores in sprints. As a daughter of Omaha Beach, and half-sister to Canadian champion Amis Gizmo, out of a mare by 1998 Belmont (G1) hero Victory Gallop, she has every right to transfer her game to a route.

Mandella’s heavily favored Kopion cruises to 5 ¾ length score in Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ynez pic.twitter.com/HLqGJtmzgS

— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) January 8, 2024

Kinza and Nothing Like You are both trained by Bob Baffert, who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc., and thereby ineligible for points. The stablemates have different profiles. Kinza showed warp speed in her 6 1/2-furlong unveiling, while Nothing Like You has excelled going further. Note that Juan Hernandez sticks with Kinza, and Nothing Like You gets Frankie Dettori.

Great Forty Eight was second across the wire in the Starlet, but the Tim Yakteen pupil was demoted to fourth for interference. Rounding out the quintet is She’s a Tempest from the Steve Knapp barn. Runner-up to Kopion two starts ago, She’s a Tempest came right back to break her maiden going a mile here.

The Las Virgenes is carded as the fifth race (5:30 p.m. ET), and you can watch and wager on Santa Anita and Tampa Bay Downs at TwinSpires.com.