D'Amato contemplating quick turnaround for Mirth

ARCADIA, Calif. – Distance races on turf for top-class fillies and mares are rare in Southern California, which could led to a quick turnaround for Mirth following her win in Saturday’s Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said Mirth could run in the Grade 3 Astra Stakes, a $100,000 race at 1 1/2 miles on turf on Jan. 19. The Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes, a $200,000 race at 1 1/4 miles on turf on March 28 is another goal in the early months of the new year.

“I could run her in the Astra or we could wait for the race in March,” D’Amato said on Sunday morning. “If I run her back in the Astra, I’ve still got nine weeks to the Santa Ana.”

Owned by the Little Red Feather Racing partnership, Mirth ($4.80) won her second graded stakes in three starts in the $101,053 Frankel Stakes. She closed from off the pace under Mike Smith to win by a nose over the D’Amato-trained Tiny Tina (7-1).

Mirth won the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf here in September, but was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2. In those races, she set the pace. D’Amato said Mirth may be positioned as a stalker in upcoming races.

“I can tell her confidence is coming around,” he said. “She’s trained like a talented filly. Mike rides her with a lot of confidence.”

Mixed figures for delayed opener

Attendance and handle figures were mixed on Saturday’s delayed opening of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

The ontrack crowd was announced as 35,085, below the 2018 figure of 43,373. Saturday’s attendance was the lowest for an opening day since 30,540 attended in 2013.

Saturday’s all-sources handle, including simulcasting and account wagering sources, was $19,021,102 on the 11-race card, down from a record $20.4 million on a 10-race card in 2018, but above the 2017 figure of $17.2 million on a nine-race card.

Opening day was scheduled for Thursday, but postponed two days because of a significant rainstorm on Wednesday night and early Thursday.