D'Amato looks to get off to fast start with Alice Marble in Monrovia
ARCADIA, Calif. – First on the track, first out of the gate, first to the wire. The first is certain, the second likely, the third the desired outcome for Alice Marble, who will try to get Saturday’s Santa Anita card off to a strong start for trainer Phil D’Amato in the Grade 2, $200,000 Monrovia Stakes for female turf sprinters.
D’Amato leads all trainers Saturday with 12 entrants, spread across eight races. Alice Marble, his lone entrant in the Monrovia, drew the rail in the day’s first race, so she’ll lead the post parade.
Alice Marble has good speed, and though she may be better stalking, fleeing the inside going about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course is of paramount importance. She can’t afford any mistakes, because with Tapwater rolling late, and invaders Brooke Marie and Tobys Heart owning strong overall form, the six-runner Monrovia is a competitive start to the day’s proceedings.
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Alice Marble, a California-bred, is making her first start in a graded stakes race. In two turf sprints earlier this meet, she was second down the hill while breaking from the rail in a 12-horse field in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, then captured the Wishing Well at 6 1/2 furlongs on the flat.
“She’s taking a small step up in class,” said D’Amato, who trains Alice Marble for owner-breeder Nick Alexander. “Her last two races have shown she’s as good on grass as dirt. She had a good second two back her first time down the hill. It was a good experience. Hopefully, the second time will be better.”
Tobys Heart, breaking next to her, ships in from Florida and is cutting back to a more suitable distance for her first start of the year. She’s 4 for 5 at seven furlongs or shorter, and her biggest win came sprinting at Kentucky Downs last September in the Music City, in which she got a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 92. John Velazquez picks up the mount for trainer Brian Lynch.
Also shipping in is Brooke Marie, who won three straight turf sprints at Keeneland and Fair Grounds going 5 1/2 furlongs or thereabouts for trainer Eddie Kenneally before a late-running third behind course specialists Elle Z and Change of Control in the Fred Aime on Jan. 29 at Fair Grounds.
Tapwater was a disappointing fifth behind Alice Marble in the Wishing Well, but her lone downhill effort was terrific, when second in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas on Jan. 9. A contested pace would benefit her.
“She’s done well down the hill. Took me a few years to figure that out,” said her trainer, Richard Mandella, his wit as dry as the turf.
Royal Address steps up in class following a second and then a win down the hill in second-level allowance company.
“I think she’s coming around. Her last race showed she’s improving.” said her trainer, Neil Drysdale. “She needs a bit of a target.”
Cover Version, in from Turf Paradise, will be the race’s longest shot.