By Christie DeBernardis
The Coolmore contingent's Taris (Flatter) looks to score her third straight victory and first at the highest level in Saturday's GI Santa Margarita S. at Santa Anita. The “TDN Rising Star” made a name for herself as a sprinter, winning the 2014 GII Raven Run S. and 2015 GIII Rancho Bernardo H. Third in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint Oct. 31, the Simon Callaghan pupil was shipped to New York and stretched to a mile next out in Aqueduct's GIII Go for Wand H. Nov. 27, which she won by 2 1/2 lengths. The bay proved that was no fluke next out when romping by 5 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile GII La Canada S. Jan. 16 and tries nine furlongs for the first time in this test.
“She couldn't be training any better,” Callaghan told the Santa Anita notes team. “She's got a good post. She relaxed well in the La Canada and I couldn't be happier with the way she's going.”
Stonestreet Stables' “TDN Rising Star” Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song) also looks to post back-to-back victories here. A close third in the GII Santa Monica S. Jan. 23, the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee overcame a slow break to earn her first graded success next out in the 1 1/16-mile GII Santa Maria S. Feb. 13 and adds blinkers for this first try at Grade I company.
Gary Mandella sends out Santa Maria third-place finisher Living The Life (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) for HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing LLC. Winner of the GII Presque Isle Downs Masters S. last September, the bay failed to fire when switched to the turf for Del Mar's GII Goldikova S. Nov. 1 and was fourth in the Santa Monica prior to completing the trifecta last time in the Santa Maria.
East Coast invader Penwith (Bernardini) is also hoping to score her first win at the highest level for the red hot Kiaran McLaughlin barn. The Godolphin homebred is two-for-two this season, winning a Gulfstream optional claimer Jan. 21 and following suit with a victory in the GII Royal Delta S. Feb. 13. She is also only contender in the field with a win at this distance, having captured a nine-panel test at Saratoga during her 2014 campaign
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