Anisette to have light campaign with Breeders' Cup as year-end goal

Anisette began her 2024 season with a win in Monday’s Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita.

“Hopefully, we can end the year with one as well,” trainer Leonard Powell said.

Powell and the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners who own Anisette have the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 2 as a long-range goal with as few as three races likely in the interim.

Powell said on Wednesday that Anisette will be considered for two Grade 2 turf races for fillies and mares at the Del Mar summer meeting – the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 10 and the $250,000 John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 7.

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The Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita Oct. 5 is also a target.

Anisette won her third Grade 1 race in the Gamely. She won her final start of 2023 in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita.

In the $301,500 Gamely, Anisette closed from a stalking position to win by a half-length over a game Kentucky shipper in Olivia Maralda.

Powell said Anisette can improve from that performance, noting that behind-the-scenes she has yet to show she is in peak condition.

“I was very impressed,” he said. “We gave her a break late last year. We were running out of time to get her ready.

“Her coat is not there yet. There is more to come. She was still able to perform at her best without looking her best.”

Anisette, a winner of 6 of 10 starts, won two starts on turf against 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar last summer – the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at a mile and the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles.

With the Breeders’ Cup in California this year, Anisette may not leave the state.

“There may be more cons than pros in shipping when the Breeders’ Cup is here,” Powell said. “We can run her once or twice at Del Mar. Then, there is the Rodeo Drive.

“She loves Del Mar.”

For Powell, this is a good year to have an outstanding older filly and be able to say that.

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