Avenge, Paradise Woods among Mandella's stakes workers

Fillies and mares will provide the majority of trainer Richard Mandella’s stakes runners at the Del Mar summer meeting. This week, Mandella has had several notable workers at Santa Anita in advance of the barn’s move to Del Mar.

Avenge, who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita last November, worked six furlongs on Wednesday in 1:15.20, although Mandella timed her in 1:14. She is a candidate for the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 5, with the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 4 a long-term goal.

More immediately, Mrs McDougal is a candidate for the restricted Osunitas Stakes for fillies and mares on turf July 21. A three-time stakes winner who has not raced since September, Mrs McDougal joined Mandella’s stable from trainer Chad Brown last winter.

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Blame It On Alphie is probable for the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies on July 23.

Mandella has Bendable pointing for the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 13 and Paradise Woods for the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile Aug. 27.

Bendable won a stakes for the second time in the Grade 3 Desert Stormer at Santa Anita on June 18.

Paradise Woods won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 8 but was 11th in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5 in her latest start. On Wednesday, Paradise Woods worked five furlongs in 1:02.40.

Mandella said Paradise Woods will remain on dirt this summer. Del Mar’s stakes program for 3-year-old fillies emphasizes turf stakes.

“I’ve taken a little time with her,” Mandella said. “The timing is good to the Torrey Pines. I think I’ll stick to dirt and not be creative.”

The stable’s leading male is Bal a Bali, who won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita on June 3, earning a fees-paid berth in the BC Mile on Nov. 4. On Tuesday at Santa Anita, Bal a Bali worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds for the Del Mar Mile on Aug. 20. He will not run in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on July 22.

“I’d rather stick to the Mile,” Mandella said.