Las Virgenes Stakes Showcases Top Thoroughbred Fillies on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks

The Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita is annually one of the country's top races on the road to the Kentucky Oaks, the 3-year-old filly counterpart to the Kentucky Derby, on the first Friday in May. The 2012 edition of the one-mile $250,000 Las Virgenes will take place March 3 on a star-studded program also featuring the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile.

The Las Virgenes is part of Santa Anita's three-race Stakes series that's restricted to 3-year-old fillies with Kentucky Oaks aspirations. The Las Virgenes is preceded by the 6 1/2-furlong Santa Ynez Stakes and is followed by the Grade 1, 1 1/16-mile Santa Anita Oaks on March 31.

Since its inception in 1983, the Las Virgenes has featured some of the greatest fillies to ever look through a bridle. Among those are such luminaries as Blind Luck (2010), Rags to Riches (2007), Surfside (2000), Hall of Famer Serena's Song (1995) and Lite Light (1991). All of those fillies would go on to win the Kentucky Oaks and/or be named champion 3-year-old filly at the end of the year.

Perhaps most notable of that group is Rags to Riches. In the summer of 2007, the daughter of A.P. Indy was sent to face the boys for the first time in her career in the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. Rags to Riches would shock the racing world in the Belmont, outdueling eventual two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in a slugfest down the stretch to become the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in 102 years.

The 2012 Las Virgenes is expected to be headlined by Reneesgotzip, according to the Santa Anita publicity office. The daughter of City Zip is undefeated in two career starts, which includes the Santa Ynez when making her Stakes debut Jan. 15. Trained by Peter Miller, Reneesgotzip has shown star potential to this point and a big performance in the Las Virgenes would vault her near the top of the 3-year-old filly division.

Additionally, a win by Reneesgotzip would provide jockey Corey Nakatani with his record-breaking fifth win in the Las Virgenes. Nakatani previously won in 1991, 1995, 1997 and 2005 to lead all jockeys.

One potential chink in the armor for Reneesgotzip is she's bred to be a sprinter and this will be her first try running around two turns. It will be interesting to see how the filly reacts when the races get longer this spring.

Santa Anita officials said five 3-year-old fillies are expected to take on Renessgotzip in the 2012 Las Virgenes. They are Charm the Maker, Killer Graces, Made to Love Her, Willa B Awesome and Your Special Day.

The 2011 Las Virgenes winner, Zazu, set the Stakes record when completing the one-mile in 1:34.86. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas leads his respective category in number of Las Virgenes wins with five stretching from 1984 to 2000, which includes Serena's Song and Surfside. Robert and Beverly Lewis have the most wins among owners with three, which included Serena's Song.