West -- The second meeting of budding rivals Composure and Elloluv in Sunday's Las Virgenes (Grade I) at Santa Anita was just as memorable as the first -- and this time the decision went to the favorite.

Robert and Beverly Lewis' Composure, a daughter of Touch Gold who was upset by 30-1 shot Elloluv as a heavy favorite in the Hollywood Starlet in December, overcame a stumbling start to edge Elloluv by a neck in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. Jockey Jerry Bailey was aboard as she wore down her pacesetting rival in a long stretch-duel. It was the first Grade I stakes victory for Composure, who was narrowly defeated by unbeaten champion Storm Flag Flying in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Arlington Park in October.

"That other filly is quick and I knew she was going to have an edge on us at a mile," said Baffert. "I'm glad the rest of the races are further now."

The loss snapped a three-race winning streak for the Craig Dollase-trained Elloluv, who had won the Santa Ynez (GII) at Santa Anita since her four-length victory over Composure in the Starlet. She was ridden by Pat Valenzuela.

"She ran a winning race," said Valenzuela. "The other filly just ran a better race."

Watching You finished third and was three lengths back of the top pair. She was followed by Puxa Saco, Maddie's Charm and Favola. Composure won for the third time in seven races and increased her career earnings to $531,100. And Baffert said his Kentucky Oaks (GI) contender could emerge as a contender to run against males in the Kentucky Derby (GI). Baffert told Steve Haskin of The Blood-Horse to put the filly on his "Derby Watch" list.

Composure is one of five fillies nominated to the Kentucky Derby and Visa Triple Crown. Baffert has saddled one filly in the Derby: Excellent Meeting, who was fifth to Charismatic in the 1999 "Run for the Roses."

Central -- Trainer Bob Baffert has nominated a trio of 3-year-old fillies to next week's Silverbulletday Stakes (GII) at the Fair Grounds. The Thoroughbred Corp's Atlantic Ocean, a winner in restricted stakes company in the recent Sunshine Millions competition at Gulfstream Park, would appear to be the most likely starter for Baffert in the 1 1/16-mile stepping stone to the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), the New Orleans' track's major prep for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (GI). Baffert also nominated Las Virgenes winner Composure and Santa Catarina, both of which are owned by Robert and Beverly Lewis. The 15 fillies nominated to the race also include the Steve Asmussen-trained Lady Tak, who is expected to skip the Silverbulletday and train up to the Fair Grounds Oaks, and multiple stakes winner Handpainted.

The race was known as the Davona Dale until 2001, when it was renamed in honor of Silverbulletday, who won the race and the Fair Grounds Oaks and went on to win the Kentucky Oaks for Baffert and owner Mike Pegram in 1999.

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