ARCADIA, Calif. – Conditions are made to order Saturday for Hot Peppers, the lone speed in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes for filly-mare sprinters at Santa Anita. Just one problem. Her name is Three Witches. Notwithstanding the pace advantage of her chief rival, Three Witches enters the seven-furlong Santa Monica as one of the most reliable favorites on the card, even if Hot Peppers figures to be loose on the lead. Six entered the $200,000 Santa Monica, race 9. Three Witches makes her first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Hot Peppers finished second last out in her return from a 16-month layoff. The four others are Grade 3-winning closers Kirstenbosch and Chismosa, multiple stakes winner Rose Maddox, and allowance-caliber Cliquish. The race centers around Three Witches and Hot Peppers, who could shake loose. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Hot Peppers had been off 16 months when she returned for new trainer Phil D’Amato in the Grade 3 Las Flores at Santa Anita. Hot Peppers pressed fast fractions, got the best of pace rival Sweet Azteca, and was worn down to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths. “She definitely needed that race,” D’Amato said. “She got something out of it. She should take a step forward” in the Santa Monica. Juan Hernandez rides 5-year-old Hot Peppers, whose 5-for-10 record includes a 2022 win in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. Even though Three Witches must chase a loose on the lead front-runner, her class and superior speed figures warrant favoritism. She certainly exits the best race. After winning the Grade 3 Princess Rooney in October at Gulfstream Park, Three Witches finished third in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. She subsequently sold at auction for $1.7 million to Yuesheng Zhang and was transferred from trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. to Michael McCarthy. “She had a short spell after the sale, was in very good order when she got here, and she’s trained forwardly since,” McCarthy said. “She’s done everything we’ve asked of her, classy filly, very straightforward.” Flavien Prat rides Three Witches, who has enough natural speed to keep the pacesetter in range. Although the 3-for-8 mare has not raced in three months, McCarthy pronounced her fit and ready. Santa Monica favorites have won 7 of 13 since Santa Anita reinstalled dirt. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Kirstenbosch also exits the BC Filly and Mare Sprint; she finished fifth with an imperfect trip. She broke slowly, again, and rallied from last by 10 lengths to split the field and miss by only five. “We think with a good trip or a good break, and a few things going right, she could have done a little better, maybe second or third,” trainer John Sadler said. “We gave her a couple weeks out on the farm after the Breeders’ Cup with the idea of starting her back in this one.” Sadler hoped the Santa Monica would have pace to run at, but the field includes just one front-runner. Kirstenbosch, 4 of 18 in career, will rally late under Hector Berrios. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.