Horse Racing Odds: Starlet Stakes Highlights

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Horse Racing Odds

Starlet Stakes Prepares to Crown California’s Top Juvenile Fillies

The Starlet Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course on Dec. 7 will be a critical test for some of California’s top 2-year-old fillies.  Featuring a competitive field of seven, this 1 1/16-mile race includes an impressive lineup of graded stakes winners with excellent horse racing odds, maiden-breaking standouts, and the ever-dominant Bob Baffert, who has won the last seven Starlet Stakes, offering interesting offtrack betting opportunities. 

Top Contenders in the Spotlight

Vodka With a Twist enters as the most accomplished filly in the field, boasting six career starts and $639,320 in earnings. Trained by Phil D’Amato, she was last seen finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), 4 1/2 lengths behind winner Immersive. 

Earlier in her career, Vodka With a Twist claimed the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs and placed second in two Del Mar graded stakes. The daughter of Thousand Words, who won the 2019 Los Alamitos Futurity, will be ridden by Kyle Frey in her Starlet debut.

Adding intrigue to the lineup is Aunt Mo, a promising daughter of Uncle Mo trained by Peter Eurton. Aunt Mo dominantly broke her maiden, winning by nine lengths in her third career start. Making her stakes debut, she is expected to be a strong challenger in this talented group.

The Baffert Trio: A Winning Tradition

Trainer Bob Baffert has entered three contenders into this year’s Starlet, each with significant potential. Baffer is a Saratoga betting veteran. Leading the trio is Tenma, owned by Charlie and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corporation. 

The Nyquist filly captured the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) in just her second start before finishing third in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2). Tenma will race without blinkers in the Starlet.

Zedan Racing Stables’ Nooni also represents Baffert’s arsenal. The daughter of Win Win Win won the Sorrento Stakes (G3) and placed second in the Oak Leaf Stakes. However, her recent performances, including a sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, leave her with something to prove. Like Tenma, Nooni will also run without blinkers this time.

Rounding out Baffert’s team is Mawu, another Baoma-owned filly. This daughter of Blame was impressed with her debut win and followed it with a third-place finish in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar. Despite being the least experienced of the trio, Mawu has shown promise in her limited starts.

Other Notable Entrants

Tim Yakteen’s Practical Dream heads into the Starlet after winning the Desi Arnaz Stakes, bringing her record to two wins and a second in three starts. The daughter of Practical Joke will look to build on her recent success in a deeper field.

Trainer Michael McCarthy enters Look Forward, a Bolt d’Oro filly with a poignant backstory. She won her debut at Del Mar in fast time for trainer Ben Cecil, who passed away in November. McCarthy, who once worked as an assistant for Cecil, has taken over Look Forward’s training and will aim to honor his former mentor with a strong performance.