Canto Della Terra finds more suitable company

Canto Della Terra, who starts in an allowance race for fillies and mares at a mile on turf Friday at Santa Anita, had a disrupted summer season at Del Mar.

After a second-place finish in an allowance race July 23, Canto Della Terra was in the gate for a similar race on Aug. 21. She became upset and was scratched.

The back-up plan was a start in a more difficult race, the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Sept. 7. Canto Della Terra finished sixth of 10, beaten 5 1/2 lengths.

“She flipped in the gate,” trainer Phil D’Amato said of the race on Aug. 21. “My only choice was to run her back in the stakes. She didn’t disgrace herself, but it wasn’t the ideal spot.

“We’re back to square one.”

Canto Della Terra is part of a field of six in Friday’s seventh race. She is one of three 2026 winners in the field, along with Lavender Love, who won two races on dirt at Santa Anita earlier this year, and the D’Amato-trained Goodies, who was unbeaten in two starts at a mile on turf at Del Mar – a maiden race on July 17 and an allowance race on Aug. 16.

The other runners are the highly capable Ribbons and Raw Ability, who were second and third in the Aug. 21 race where Canto Della Terra was scratched; and Schilified, unraced since she finished last of seven in an allowance race at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita in June.

Canto Della Terra has started twice around two turns, beginning with the July 23 race at 1 1/16 miles in which closed from fifth to lose by 1 1/4 lengths.

“I thought she ran a good race first time long,” D’Amato said. “She was a little wide, but it was a good trip.”

On Friday, runners such as Lavender Love and Ribbons could help Canto Della Terra’s closing style.

“It looks like a race with a little bit speed to set up for her,” D’Amato said. “I think she should be in a good spot.”

Goodies, who starts from the outside post, closed from third on July 17 and led throughout on Aug. 16. She can adapt if Ribbons and Lavender Love are quick early, D’Amato said.

Goodies is the only 3-year-old in Friday’s race, which is a prep for the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf on Oct. 25.

“I think she’s on the improve,” D’Amato said. “I don’t think she’s one-dimensional.”

Lavender Love, who has won 4 of 9 starts, has more to prove. This is her first start since she was pulled up in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on May 30.

Trainer Richard Baltas predicts a forward trip for Lavender Love, who has won twice on dirt and twice on turf.

“There is a lot of speed in the race and she likes to be in the race,” he said. “She’s good on the dirt going long and she can carry her speed.”