Australia: La Spezia will go longer in Tuesday handicap

The 3-year-old Australian filly La Spezia needed four races to beat maidens. What may have been key for the breakthrough performance at Benalla Racecourse on April 9 was the race distance of about 1 1/4 miles.

La Spezia will start in a longer race in her debut against winners in a handicap at about 1 3/8 miles at Sale Racecourse on Tuesday. Trained by Jamie Edwards, La Spezia is part of a field of 11 and one of two recent maiden-prace winners in the group, along with contender Tictoc Tictoc.

Those fillies will head the betting, while the 4-year-old gelding Arctic Wolf will draw some attention.

At Benalla, La Spezia closed from fifth in a field of 11 to win by 2 1/4 lengths as the 3-4 favorite. La Spezia was second and third in maiden races at seven furlongs and at a mile in March, closing well to miss by a head and about a half-length. La Spezia is a danger from off the pace.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Tictoc Tictoc needed six races to beat maidens. At Bendigo on April 6, Tictoc Tictoc led throughout a maiden race at 1 1/2 miles, winning by 2 1/4 lengths over Jekyll’n’hyde with Beeston Lad in third. On April 21 at Bendigo, Beeston Lad and Jekyll’n’hyde were first and second in a maiden race.

Tictoc Tictoc ran well from off the pace when second in two maiden races in March.

Arctic Wolf, a winner of 2 of 11 starts, was fourth by 3 1/4 lengths in a handicap at about 1 1/4 miles at Cranbourne on April 9, closing some ground through the stretch in the longest race of his career. Arctic Wolf has not won beyond seven furlongs, but should benefit from the experience of the recent race at Cranbourne.

Sale has an eight-race program that begins at 11 p.m. Eastern, or 8 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: DRF's Kenucky Derby Headquarters: Contenders, latest news, past performances, analysis, and more