OffTrackBetting.com - Classy Beau Recall (IRE) takes a big drop in class as she heads a field of nine older fillies and mares in Saturday's Grade III, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita Park's hillside turf course.

In addition to Beau Recall, who has been competitive in four consecutive Grade I stakes going two turns on grass, Claiborne Farm's homebred Bendable, a winner of the Grade III Desert Stormer Stakes going six furlongs on dirt here three starts back on June 18, will try turf for the first time in the Las Cienegas merits serious consideration and will be reunited with Mike Smith.

A pair of comebackers, the Jeff Mullins-conditioned Anita Partner and the Bill Morey-trained Coniah have solid sprint credentials and loom dangerous off the bench.

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BEAU RECALL

In terms of class, Beau Recall jumps off the page although she has never run down this course. Most recently fifth, beaten 3 ½ lengths going a mile and a quarter on turf in Santa Anita's Grade I American Oaks on Dec. 30, this 4-year-old Irish-bred filly was second, beaten a nose three starts back in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks Aug. 19 and would appear to hold a decided class edge on her competition as she tries Santa Anita unique downhill turf course for the first time. A 1 ½ length allowance winner in her U.S. debut going a mile on turf eight starts back in January, 2017, Beau Recall has been winless in her seven subsequent races while keeping top class company. Ridden by Joe Talamo in seven of her eight stateside starts for Callaghan, she'll get the services of Corey Nakatani Saturday.

Owner: Slam Dunk Racing or Medallion Racing

Trainer: Simon Callaghan

BENDABLE

Another horse with stakes credentials is Bendable, who is trying turf for the first time in her ninth career start. Most recently fourth, beaten 4 ½ lengths in the Grade II Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 7, she has an impressive main track resume of 8-4-1-2, with earnings of $236,500. A 5-year-old mare by Horse Greeley out of the Arch mare, Bend, she'll likely show good speed in her turf debut. "I think she has the breeding for grass," said Mandella on Sunday. "A few horses in her family have liked it, so I think it will be interesting to try. You never know if you don't try." Ridden by Javier Castellano at Keeneland, she'll be ridden by "Big Money" Mike Smith, who guided her to a third place finish in the Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap two starts back and who won with her here in the Desert Stormer last June.

Owner: Claiborne Farm

Trainer: Richard Mandella

ANITA PARTNER

Anita Partner is the only horse in the field that has won twice at this unique downhill turf trip, those wins coming back-to-back last spring with 102 figures in both. Idle since fourth at 5-2 in the five furlong turf Daisycutter Handicap at Del Mar Aug. 4, this 6-year-old Irish-bred mare was a close third down the hillside turf three starts back in the Grade II Monrovia Stakes on May 27 and is a solid 5-2-1-2 down the hill overall. A potential candidate for retirement should she notch her first-ever graded stakes score, Anita Partner is 15-4-2-2 lifetime and will be ridden by Tyler Baze, who's managed three wins from five tries with her.

Owner: Alvin Wong and John Stavropoulos

Trainer: Jeff Mullins

CONIAH

Coniah comes back from seven months off and appears fresh, fit and ready to run well. A troubled second to Bendable in the Grade III Desert Stormer Stakes here June 18, this 5-year-old California-bred mare by Harlington was a close second over the course two starts back in the Grade II Monrovia Stakes May 27, a race in which she earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed figure. Graded stakes place on four occasions, she's been second in both of her hillside attempts and will seek her first stakes victory in what will be her 20th career start on Saturday. Bred in California by her owners, Coniah has banked $235,365 and has three wins, five seconds and three thirds overall.

Owner: James and Tammy McKenney

Trainer: William Morey