Alexis Tangier seeks first graded stakes win in Autumn Miss
ARCADIA, Calif. – Alexis Tangier was not an intended starter in the minor Unzip Me Stakes on the hillside turf course Sept. 27 until trainer Richard Mandella studied the stakes schedule for the Santa Anita autumn meeting.
Mandella was focused on Saturday’s $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes as the primary race for Alexis Tangier during the season.
“I was looking at this race, and when I saw that short race, I thought, ‘Why work her?’ ” Mandella recalled this week.
Alexis Tangier won her stakes debut in the Unzip Me at 6-1. She will be a top contender and a shorter price when she attempts to win her first graded stakes in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss over a mile on turf.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Alexis Tangier. Trainer Richard Mandella is 33-4-9-5 with a $0.95 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on turf at Santa Anita. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Owned by breeders Robert Naify and Jan Vandebos, Alexis Tangier won an allowance race over a mile Aug. 20 at Del Mar, giving Mandella confidence regarding Saturday’s distance.
“I think she might like it,” Mandella said.
Alexis Tangier is among 14 3-year-old fillies in an oversubscribed field that will be limited to 10 starters.
The Autumn Miss drew an eclectic group, including Lexie Lou, the winner of the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine in July; the stakes winners Diversy Harbor, On the Backstreets, Sheza Smoke Show, Thegirlinthatsong, and Wonderfully; and the stakes-placed fillies Famous Gender and Tiz Kissable.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Lexie Lou. Trainer Mark Casse is 53-3-6-10 with a $0.69 ROI over the past two years in turf route graded stakes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Key contenders
Alexis Tangier (Last 3 Beyers: 90-83-68)
* By Tiznow, Alexis Tangier is out of Cambiocorsa, a four-time stakes winner on the hillside turf course in 2000. Cambiocorsa is the dam of Moulin de Mougin, the winner of the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in August.
* The pedigree suggests to Mandella that Alexis Tangier “should like longer races. I think she’ll improve with time.”
* Victor Espinoza has the mount on Alexis Tangier, who is dangerous as a stalker.
Lexie Lou (Last 3 Beyers: 44-93-88)
* After a brilliant summer in which she won the Woodbine Oaks, the Queen’s Plate against males, and the Wonder Where Stakes against 3-year-old fillies, Lexie Lou ran the worst race of her 14-race career when she finished last of 10 against older fillies and mares on turf Sept. 14 in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine.
* The Canadian Stakes was her first start outside of her age group. She was in contention to early stretch before fading as the 3-2 favorite.
“There was no real excuse,” trainer Mark Casse said. “I don’t know what happened.”
Diversy Harbor (Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-81)
* A drop in class after losses in two Grade 1 stakes in the summer may make a graded stakes winner of Diversy Harbor, trained by Tom Proctor.
* Diversy Harbor was second in the Grade 1 American Oaks here in May, fourth as the favorite in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar on July 19, and sixth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 16. Diversy Harbor won the minor China Doll Stakes over a mile on turf here last March.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Tiz Kissable. Trainer Tim McCanna is 58-2-5-8 with a $0.59 ROI over the past five years in races at Southern California tracks. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan