All eyes on promising comebacker Astute in Angels Flight

ARCADIA, Calif. – While 3-year-old colts command attention Saturday in Kentucky, the California spotlight is on 3-year-old fillies in a pair of stakes races at Santa Anita.

Highly regarded Astute faces stablemate Missy P. and two others in the $75,000 Angels Flight Stakes, a dirt sprint that is race 5. Closing Remarks could go favored over nine rivals in a deep edition of the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes, a turf route that is race 10.

The Angels Flight is ungraded, with a modest purse, and only four entrants. But it might be the most significant race Saturday at Santa Anita, because it marks the comeback of Astute, who has a reputation to restore after her 2020 campaign ended with a fourth-place fizzle in the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos. It turns out she had an alibi.

“She had foot problems out of the race at Los Alamitos, and we just took the time to grow them out,” trainer Richard Mandella explained regarding her five-month layoff. “She’s doing very well now. She’s a really good filly.”

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She hinted at it last year. Astute raced three times, winning a maiden turf sprint followed by a blowout in the $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar. After that dirt sprint, which she won by more by 7 1/2 lengths, Astute misfired in the Starlet. All is well Saturday.

“Anybody can see her works are good, she’s ready to go,” Mandella said. “She went 11-and-change the other day.” Astute worked six furlongs in 1:11.40 on April 23.

Missy P. is facing winners following a March 12 debut she won by more than nine lengths, earning a 90 Beyer on the “good” track.

“She’s a little unknown,” Mandella acknowledged.

Stella Noir and Heels Up also entered the Angels Flight.

While Astute and Missy P. top the sprint stakes, Santa Anita Oaks winner Soothsay, the most accomplished 3-year-old filly trained by Mandella, is gearing up for the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on May 30.

Along with California Oaks winner Pizzazz, Mandella is sitting pretty with fillies. He starts longshot Golden in the Senorita Stakes on Saturday, a mile turf race that came up deep without the top local turf filly.

Going Global, winner of the China Doll Stakes and Grade 3 Providencia Stakes, will skip the Senorita to prepare for the Grade 3 Honeymoon on May 22 and the major summer stakes for 3-year-old turf fillies at Del Mar – the Grade 2 San Clemente and Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

Meanwhile, Providencia runner-up Closing Remarks will be happy not to face Going Global. Carla Gaines trains Closing Remarks, who won the California Cup Oaks in January, followed by runner-up finishes behind Going Global in both the China Doll and Providencia. Gaines also trains Senorita starter Sensible Cat, third in the Providencia.

Madone, a two-time stakes winner last year for trainer Simon Callaghan, makes her first start since finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The others in the Senorita field are Javanica, Jibber Jabber, Majestic Steps, Nimbostratus, Stressed, Sweetest Angel, and Tetragonal.