D'Amato has plenty of candidates for early Del Mar stakes

Lady Lucy, a maiden race winner at Churchill Downs last month, has been transferred to California trainer Phil D’Amato after being bought for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton horses of racing age sale in Kentucky on Monday.

Lady Lucy, by Into Mischief, is now owned by the Little Red Feather partnership and Sam Aguilar. The filly won her second start, which came in a five-furlong race on June 15 for trainer William Connelly.

“I think she’s due to arrive in the next few days,” D’Amato said on Wednesday.

Lady Lucy will be pointed for the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 5, a key prep for the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 1.

D’Amato tied for the training title at Del Mar last summer with Richard Baltas. They each won 18 races. D’Amato has a chance for a strong start at this year’s summer meeting, with runners in several stakes on opening week.

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In the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds on the July 18 opening-day program, D’Amato will start the Irish import Andesh, Saltero, and Heartfullofstars.

In the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf on July 21, D’Amato will run Miss Sienna and Rockin Ready.

There are two turf stakes on the July 22 program – the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles and the restricted $75,000 Wickerr Stakes. D’Amato has won the last two runnings of the Eddie Read with Midnight Storm and Hunt and this year will run Hunt and Bowies Hero.

Kenjisstorm and Isotherm are likely for the Wickerr. Fashion Business could run in the Read or Wickerr, D’Amato said.