Brilliant Taris Tops Field for $300,000 La Brea Stakes

Taris has been installed as the morning line favorite at 2-1 and will be making her first start for trainer Simon Callaghan since being purchased privately after a nine-length romp in the Raven Run Stakes (G3). She has won four of her five career starts, three of which have come this year. She has been training forwardly at Santa Anita since her last race and clocked a sharp bullet workout on December 14. She is scheduled to break from the rail under Rafael Bejarano.

Jo Jo Warrior a major threat from outside post

Second choice at 4-1 on the morning line is Jo Jo Warrior for trainer Bob Baffert. A daughter of Pioneerof the Nile bred by Zayat Stables and owned in partnership by Zayat and Winstar Farm, she has won three of her seven starts and will be trying to earn her first Grade 1 win. She was last seen finishing third behind eventual Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) champion Untapable in the Cotillion (G1) at Parx in September. She will have Martin Garcia aboard from the outside post.

Front-running Stonetastic training sharply 

Also in the field at morning line odds of 4-1 is Stonetastic for trainer Kelly Breen. A gray daughter of Mizzen Mast, she wound up fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) after contesting the early. She has been on the board in seven of her nine career starts and will be attempting to earn her first Grade 1 victory. She has been training sharply since the Breeders’ Cup and will have regular rider Paco Lopez aboard from post seven.