D'Amato seeks to jump-start his meet in maiden sprints

ARCADIA, Calif. – The maidens Dr Wysong, Our Romance, Dimkar, and Overdue start at Santa Anita on Thursday and may help revive a quiet start to the year for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Dr Wysong and Our Romance start in a maiden special weight race for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs in the second race. Dimkar and Overdue are part of a field of six in a maiden special weight race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in the third race.

Through Sunday, D’Amato has won 9 races from 81 starters at this meeting, which began Dec. 26. His stable is winning at an 11 percent clip, below his 18 percent winning average for all of 2018.

“We’re looking to turn the corner,” D’Amato said. “The rain hampered everyone and myself included. We’re so heavily weighted with grass horses. It put my barn on halt. I think we’ll start rolling shortly.”

SECOND RACE

KEY CONTENDERS

Dr Wysong, by Cyclotron
Last 2 Beyers: 62-59

◗ Dr Wysong was third in her first two starts – a six-furlong maiden race for California-bred 2-year-old fillies Dec. 2 at Del Mar and a maiden race for statebreds on the hillside turf course Feb. 9, losing by a length.

◗ Flavien Prat rode Dr Wysong in both races and suggested Dr Wysong run on dirt for her third start.

“He said she was good on the grass, but better on the dirt,” D’Amato said.

◗ D’Amato said he was encouraged when Dr Wysong worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Saturday.

“Her last breeze was very good,” D’Amato said. “She did it in hand with a lot of energy.”

Our Romance, by Archarcharch

◗ Our Romance, a first-time starter, drew the outside post. Our Romance, who will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, is owned by Andrew Molasky, who co-owns Dr Wysong with Todd Marshall.

“She’s got tactical speed,” D’Amato said.

THIRD RACE

KEY CONTENDERS

Dimkar, by Siyouni
Last 2 Beyers: 71-66

◗ Dimkar has started twice, finishing sixth in a maiden special weight race going 1 1/16 miles on turf Dec. 2 at Del Mar and a well-beaten second in a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs on a sloppy and sealed track here Jan. 31.

“I’ve been waiting to run him down the hill for a while,” D’Amato said. “We’ve got the spot and we’re ready to go.”

◗ Dimkar, who will be ridden by Prat, has drawn the outside post in a field of six.

Overdue, by Overanalyze

◗ Overdue, a first-time starter, has worked well in recent weeks, notably five furlongs in 59.40 on Saturday, the fastest of 37 recorded works at the distance. D’Amato said a start on turf is an experiment and that an opportunity to run in a maiden race on the main track was not immediately available.

“He’s training well,” D’Amato said. “There are not any dirt maiden special weigh races, so we’ll try the grass. The question is whether he handles the grass or not.”