Anisette to get break after landing second Grade 1 of the year

ARCADIA, Calif. – Anisette won her second Grade 1 of 2023 in Tuesday’s $300,000 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, leading to thoughts from trainer Leonard Powell of what she can accomplish against older fillies and mares in 2024.

Powell said on Wednesday that Anisette is likely to have a wintertime vacation, with the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 27 as a springtime goal.

Powell expects Anisette to be a factor in such races next year, offering as proof her second-place finish to the Kentucky shipper Didia in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles against fillies and mares at Santa Anita in October.

“She was best of the Californians in the Rodeo Drive and hopefully there is more to her,” he said.

“Hopefully, we can look at the Breeders’ Cup at the end of the year.”

The Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf will be run at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Anisette won her third stakes in the American Oaks and won for the first time at 1 1/4 miles. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Anisette closed from a stalking position to catch pacesetter Be Your Best in the final furlong and beat that rival by 1 3/4 lengths. Anisette was the 3-5 favorite.

“It was very textbook,” Powell said. “She came out of the race in very good shape.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.