LAST YEAR'S WINNER - SOUL OF AN ANGEL

• Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr
• Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke
• Owner: C2 Racing Stable LLC, Agave Racing Stable and Reimer, Ken T
• US Tote Win: $41.60
• BETTING STATS
• 2007-2024
• Favourites: 7/18 (38.9%) | Level stake profit +7.5%
• Odds-on Favs: 1/4 (25%) | Level stake loss -57.5%
• Median winning price: 4.8-1
• 2007-2024 in California
• Favourites: 5/11 (45.5%) | Level stake profit +30.9%
• Odds-on Favs: 1/3 (33.3%) | Level stake loss -43.3%
• Median winning price: 3.1-1

By Barry Faulkner

Last year’s winner Soul Of An Angel will haunt me forever. Having made a case for her - and even written a couple of sentences outlining her chance for my tipping piece - I talked myself out of it. I expunged the words and didn’t even have a single cent on her - then watched in anguish as she charged down the stretch to score.

Although Soul Of An Angel went off at close to 20-1 locally last year, this has been a profitable division for favourite-backers, delivering a modest profit overall and a very fancy return in California.

However, last year’s winner became the fifth to score at double-figures odds, with the most eye-popping in that quintet in Bar Of Gold paying 66.70-1 at this year’s venue, Del Mar, back in 2017.

Run record and class clues

Soul Of An Angel became the fifth winner of this to arrive with a G2 success as their best achievement. Eleven others had at least one G1 victory in their PPs before winning in this division. Ten of those won their final prep, while only two finished out of the frame in theirs.

Run styles

This division has been a good case study for the importance of evaluating the pace in a race. I will not repeat my, usually annual, lecture, using the case of Ventura in this race in 2008 and 2009 to make the point, when a hot pace saw her close to win in the first year, but a cooler one led to her undoing a year later.

Every run style has been successful in this division, but one real positive is a victory over an extended sprint trip.

Age group?

Soul Of An Angel was the eighth five-year-old to win this, with seven four-year-olds, and three younger fillies completing the list.

Draw

The long run down the backstretch when going seven furlongs, gives the field time to find position which has resulted in an even spread of winners from across the starting gate.

Guidelines

• The betting has generally been a good guide in this division

• Checking on the pace profile in this race is a must

• The effect of the draw has been negligible

• A win over an extended sprint trip is a strong positive