ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2008) – Irish-bred Bahama Mama, a steady speedster still seeking recompense for a flawed graded stakes debut in the United States, and the ultra consistent Victorina, who has never before raced on grass, will be the co-high weights at 118 pounds Saturday in Oak Tree’s Grade III, $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Handicap for fillies and mares at

6 ½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

The 40th running of the Maddy, originally the Autumn Days Handicap, drew 12 entrants, and, on paper, it appears to be a wide-open scramble.

A 4-year-old filly who raced in Germany and France before being purchased by trainer James Cassidy for Forging Oaks Farm, Bahama Mama finished first in Santa Anita’s Grade III La Cienegas Handicap over the downhill course when making her first U.S. start last April. However, she was disqualified for drifting out while in front during the stretch run. Bahama Mama was placed fourth by the stewards.

She has two wins, a second and a third in four subsequent starts, three of them minor stakes events, and returns to graded competition on Saturday. David Flores, who has been aboard in all her stateside races, retains the mount on the bay filly who has earned $293,291 from a 7-3-5 record in 22 career races.

Victorina, a 5-year-old mare trained by Greg Gilchrist for the estate of Harry Aleo, has been a virtual globetrotter while racing at such far flung stops as Chicago, New York, Phoenix and Seattle, but calls Northern California home.

While competing on dirt or synthetics, the Florida-bred daughter of Delaware Township has won 11 of 20 starts while finishing second in five for earnings of $529,733. Russell Baze, her most constant companion, will fly in from the Bay Area to handle Victorina in her turf debut.

The complete field for the Senator Ken Maddy Handicap, with jockeys and weights in post position order: Woodland City, Martin Pedroza, 114; La Tee, Jon Court, 114; Unspoken Word, Clinton Potts, 115; Queen Ofthe Catsle, Mike Smith, 116; That’s Hot, Alex Solis, 114; Bahama Mama, David Flores, 118; Mini Do, Joseph Talamo, 111; Silky Smooth, Michael Baze, 116; Eletro Nuclear, Joel Rosario, 115; a-Steelin’, Martin Garcia, 114; a-Lightmyfirebaby, Brice Blanc, 116, and Victorina, Russell Baze, 118. a-coupled entry.

Silky Smooth, who defeated Bahama Mama by 2 ½ lengths in Hollywood Park’s Great Lady M Handicap last June, may inherit the favorite’s role. She most recently finished 1 ¾ lengths behind well-regarded Dearest Trickski when fourth in Del Mar’s Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap.

Although the 4-year-old Mr. Greeley filly has never raced over Santa Anita’s tricky downhill grass layout, she shows a 3-3-0 record in six starts on turf. Michael Baze will ride the chestnut filly trained by Jeff Mullins for E. K. Gaylord II. Silky Smooth’s overall record is 4-4-1 in 15 races for earnings of $302,094.

Queen Ofthe Catsle, owned and bred in Kentucky by C.T. Gether, is coming off a pair of victories including Del Mar’s five-furlong Daisycutter Handicap in her last start. The 4-year-old filly, trained by Howard Zucker, has posted a 4-5-0 record in 11 starts while earning $191,824. Mike Smith rides for the first time.

Lightmyfirebaby was the beneficiary of Bahama Mama’s misdoings in last spring’s Las Cienegas, but the Unusual Heat mare is winless in five races since then and finished up the track well behind Bahama Mama in two subsequent meetings.

The Maddy Handicap will go as the ninth race on a 10-race program that gets underway Saturday at 12:30 p.m.