Greg Gilchrist Ships Indyanne in for Saturday's La Brea Stakes

Trainer Greg Gilchrist clocks a worker at Golden Gate Fields.

One of my favorite trainers is bringing one of my favorite runners to Santa Anita on opening weekend. Leading West Coast conditioner Greg Gilchrist ships his good 3-year-old filly Indyanne down from Golden Gate for the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes on Saturday -- the filly version of opening day's Malibu Stakes. I had a chance to see Indyanne walking in the shedrow at Gilchrist's barn last weekend when I visited Golden Gate, and she looked absolutely gorgeous!

Indyanne, owned by John Sikura, has won 5 of 7 starts and has never finished worse than second. Her stakes victories include the Azalea at Calder and the TCA at Keeneland. She is one of two daughters of Indian Charlie in the La Brea, the other being multiple Grade 1 winner Indian Blessing, trained by Bob Baffert.

Two Greg Gilchrest Fillies Entered in Saturday's Sausalito Stakes at Golden Gate Fields

Trainer Greg Gilchrest has entered his two very special 3-year-old fillies, Indyanne and High Resolve, against older males in Saturday's Sausalito Stakes at Golden Gate Fields, for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs on the main track. High Resolve races for the Estate of Harry Aleo, Gilchrest's longtime owner and friend who died on June 21st after a battle with cancer, and for whom Gilchrest conditioned Lost in the Fog and Smokey Stover. Indyanne is owned by John Sikura.

The possibility remains that either, or both, of the two fillies will be scratched from the Sausalito and instead aim for the $65,000 Playa Del Rey, a sprint for fillies and mares at Hollywood Park on Thanksgiving Day.

Indyanne, by Indian Charlie, is a multiple graded stakes winner who has won 5 of 6 starts including the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland last month -- a race that earned her a spot in the $1 million Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. She was withdrawn from the BC Filly & Mare Sprint after developing a cough and low-grade fever.

High Resolve, by Put It Back, has won 6 of 8 starts including 4 stakes. She was a 5-1/4 length winner of the $150,000 Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies Stakes on the Florida Millions card in 2007.

Here's how the field looks for the Sasalito:

Golden Gate Fields - November 22nd, 2008 - Race 8
$75,000 Sausalito Stakes

PP Horse               Age  Sex Wt.  Jockey
1  Return of the King  6    g   123  Alex Bisono
2  Bound to Be MVP     5    h   123  Omar Figueroa
3  Assessment          4    g   123  Kyle Kaenel
4  High Resolve        3    f   117  David G. Lopez
5  Indyanne            3    f   117  Russell A. Baze
6  A Cat Named Snipe   3    c   120  Roberto M. Gonzalez
7  Siren Lure          7    g   123  Frank T. Alvarado
8  Esperamos           4    g   123  William Antongeorgi III