Anisette drops back down, eyes more division domination in Autumn Miss

ARCADIA, Calif. – The summertime star of the California turf division will try to solidify her reputation Sunday in the final stakes race of the Santa Anita autumn meet.

Anisette faces 10 rivals in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss, a turf mile for 3-year-old fillies that is a class drop for the circuit’s top turf filly. After a summer sweep of the Grade 2 San Clemente and Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, Anisette met her match against older last out. She finished second in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive.

“She ran a big race, one of the best races of her life,” trainer Leonard Powell said. “She didn’t get a perfect trip, but the winner was probably best on the day.”

Rodeo Drive winner Didia was scheduled to run Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Anisette will return to her division.

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“My filly being only 3 years old, we decided not to go to the Breeders’ Cup,” Powell said.

Makes sense. The Autumn Miss on Sunday and Grade 1 American Oaks in late December at Santa Anita allow Anisette to campaign in races restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

A deep field will try to knock off the favorite, including the 2-3-4 finishers from the Del Mar Oaks. The runner-up Be Your Best returns after a misfire on “yielding” turf in New York; Oaks third Impact Warrior runs for the first time since; Oaks fourth Ruby Nell stretches back out following a hillside sprint stakes win.

The race 8 Autumn Miss field also includes Coffee in Bed, switching surfaces after a highly rated allowance win on dirt, and sprint stakes winner Justique. Stakes-placed pace-pressers Free and Humble and Alternate Rock will keep front-runner Ruby Nell company on the lead. They help late-runner Anisette, who shortens from 1 1/4 miles.

Powell believes the distance benefits Anisette. “It’s actually going to help her, because there’s going to be more pace than last time,” he said. “With her closing style, it should play to her benefit.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners owns Anisette, who won three of her four U.S. starts and is positioned to emerge in 2024 as California’s top grass filly or mare. Umberto Rispoli, her regular rider, is back aboard.

Ruby Nell is the main threat to the favorite, stretching out with a pace advantage. Ruby Nell led to deep stretch in the Del Mar Oaks, but 1 1/8 miles was out of reach and she finished fourth. She returned to form winning the Unzip Me on the hill last out. The mile distance of the Autumn Miss suits Ruby Nell, trained by Richard Mandella.

Mandella also starts Coffee in Bed, whose surface switch to turf is to keep her in races restricted to her own age group. Sired by Curlin, she should be fine on turf.

Impact Warrior was to run Sept. 30 in an allowance race, but rain forced it to dirt. Phil D’Amato trains Impact Warrior. “A mile is probably right up her alley,” he said.

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