Angiolleta likely the one to beat in Juvenile Fillies Turf
Angiolleta is part of a small group within the 11 entrants in Saturday’s $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile at Del Mar.
Only three of the fillies have won, and Angiolleta is one of only two winners at a mile on turf in the field. Flattery won a maiden race at a mile on turf in a slow time on Aug. 19 in her debut. The other winner is Tambo who proved best in an $80,000 claimer for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt in her second start on July 28.
Overall, the field has much to prove in the Juvenile Fillies Turf as more important stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in the fall draw closer, notably the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes on Oct. 8, and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 3.
Angiolleta will be favored on the strength of a win in her American debut on July 29. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Angiolleta overcame a slow start and traffic issues in a field of 10 to win by a length after racing in eighth on the backstretch.
“She was very professional for a young filly,” O’Neill said. “I thought it reflected in the race. We’re hoping to do that again.”
Owned by the partnership of Great Friends Stable, James Cahill, Mark Davis, and Ty Leatherman, Angiolleta will be ridden for the first time by Hector Berrios, a replacement for Antonio Fresu, who begins a 32-day suspension for excessive whip violations on Saturday.
The Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf is the fifth race on an 11-race program that includes two other stakes. Fresu is allowed to ride Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes on turf because those races are graded and exempt from routine suspensions.
O’Neill expects Angiolleta to be slightly closer to the pace in the Juvenile Fillies Turf than she was in the maiden race. He cited her aggressive manner in a half-mile workout in 48.40 seconds on dirt on Monday as a reason for that opinion.
“She worked pretty well on dirt,” he said. “She’s picking it up a little bit. I think she’ll be more forwardly placed.”
Loterie, who overcame trouble to be second to Angiolleta on July 29 in her American debut, and Cailin Dana, second in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf on Aug. 4, are maidens but well-regarded in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Loterie, trained by Phil D’Amato, also overcame a slow start and traffic issues to be second as the 6-5 favorite on July 29. Loterie was closest to the front at the wire.
Cailin Dana closed from sixth in a field of eight to be second to the well-regarded Mysticism despite a wide trip.
Cailin Dana drew the outside post in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, which is likely to lead jockey Mario Gutierrez to take a forward position early in the filly’s first start at a mile.
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