In the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Cienegas at Santa Anita, Neil Drysdale's French-bred Nadette is a notable contender among 11 older fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.
Nadette, who finished third in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes in her recent outing, hopes to benefit from the pace in a field with plenty of speed. Hector Berrios is her rider.
Despite being winless in six stateside starts since October 29, Nadette has competed exclusively in stakes races, including four graded events, finishing second twice and third in her most recent outing.
Owned by Team Valor International, the 5-year-old mare has earned $140,634 from a 15: 3-3-1 record.
Irish-bred Wakanaka, owned in part by Team Valor, boasts an impressive earnings record of $913,575, making her the top earner in the field. Joel Rosario, who has previously ridden her seven times, will be in the saddle. She'll make her first start at Santa Anita under the care of trainer Michael McCarthy.
Wakanaka, primarily campaigned at middle distances on turf, has also proven her ability in turf sprints, including a victory at Keeneland in November 2022 and a close second in the Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs.
Elm Drive, trained by Phil D'Amato, is a speedy contender who has previously won and finished second in hillside races. She will cut back in distance after a seventh-place finish in the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar.
Elm Drive won the ungraded Mizdirection Stakes six starts back and finished second by a head in the ungraded Senator Ken Maddy.
Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, the consistent 5-year-old mare has earned $516,640 from a 15: 5-1-3 record.