China Doll Stakes just the start of ambitious season for Comanche Country

Since late 2022, the $100,000 China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday has been a goal for the two-time stakes winner Comanche Country.

At least the first goal.

Trainer Phil D’Amato and the partnership that owns Comanche Country – Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify – expect the Irish-bred filly can develop into a contender for more lucrative graded stakes for 3-year-old fillies this spring and summer.

“We’ve pointed for this spot,” D’Amato said. “We gave her a little extra time to make sure we had her fit enough. She’s trained steadily.”

Through a winter disrupted by wet weather in Southern California, a steady training pattern is a plus for Comanche Country, who should have conditions in her favor in the China Doll.

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The one-mile distance of the China Doll on turf is an ideal fit for Comanche Country, who has not raced since she finished seventh of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland last November. Earlier in 2022, Comanche Country won her first three starts in California, including the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in October. Comanche Country made her first two starts in Ireland.

In the China Doll, Comanche Country drew the outside post of seven and is the only stakes winner in the field. The Wild Grazer and Princess Bettina were second and third in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes on Feb. 12, while Fast and Shiny was third in the Grade 3 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt in January.

D’Amato expects jockey Umberto Rispoli to have Comanche Country in a tracking position early.

“She’s tactical,” he said. “She’s shown she can stalk and pounce, or come from further out of it.”

D’Amato also starts Paris Secret, who won her only start, a maiden race at a mile at Galway Racecourse in Ireland on Oct. 31. Paris Secret has worked in recent weeks with Comanche Country. She was entered in the China Doll Stakes after a suitable allowance race was not available, D’Amato said.

“She’s shown enough ability to give her a chance to compete in here,” D’Amato said.

While Comanche Country and Paris Secret have not raced since last fall, The Wild Grazer has developed into a stakes runner for trainer Jeff Mullins in recent months.

The Wild Grazer, who also ran twice in Ireland before coming to this country, won her first two starts in the United States in sprints – a maiden race at Del Mar in November and an allowance race at Santa Anita in January.

In the Lady of Shamrock Stakes, The Wild Grazer was rated in third for the first half-mile and closed well to finish second by a neck as the 2-1 favorite under jockey Juan Hernandez. In the China Doll, The Wild Grazer will be fitted with blinkers at the recommendation of Hernandez, Mullins said.

“Juan said she got a little lost going up the backstretch,” Mullins said. “She let go of the bridle and started looking around.

“She’s obviously a talented filly. She needs things to go her way.”

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