Charm the Giant is sore no more

DEL MAR, Calif. - With two wins at Hollywood Park in May and June, the 3-year-old filly was expected to have a big meeting at Del Mar this summer.

The campaign was postponed by a bout with sore withers last month, which resulted in her being treated by back massage. "She got cranky," McAnally said.

Charm the Giant is now a happy filly, McAnally said, and ready to try for her third consecutive win in a $68,000 optional claimer over a mile on turf on Monday.

The race could lead to Charm the Giant's stakes debut later this year.

"She acts like a nice filly," McAnally said. "She'll get tested. She's running against older fillies, but at this time of year she is closer to being 4. She'll be fit. She's been ready."

Charm the Giant has six opponents on Monday, including Domaine, who is trained by Bobby Frankel.

, a Group 1 stakes winner in Chile last year, is winless in three starts in this country. She finished a troubled third at Hollywood Park on June 18 and a troubled fourth as the favorite at Del Mar on July 29. In the latter race, she rallied from fourth but encountered traffic through the stretch and missed by a length.

Without trouble, Domaine could be very difficult to beat in Monday's race.

Charm the Giant's best asset is her late rally, which was seen twice in outstanding fashion at Hollywood Park.

Owned by McAnally's wife, Debbie, Charm the Giant rallied from fifth to beat maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf on May 8, and closed from third to win an optional claimer at a mile on June 22.

"With a slow pace, she still got them," McAnally said of the latter race.

The other five starters on Monday include only one filly coming off a win: Glassy, who won a first-condition allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf on July 31. Trained by Mike Machowsky, Glassy was making her first start of the year in that race.

Trainer Julio Canani, who is having an outstanding Del Mar meeting with nine winners from his first 27 starters, has entered Newyearresolution. Garrett Gomez will ride.

Newyearresolution was fifth in an optional claimer at a mile on turf on July 29, when she led but faded to lose by three lengths. She won an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Hollywood Park in June.