D'Amato will be patient with fast filly Enola Gray

CYPRESS, Calif. – Enola Gray, who scored a smashing win in a maiden race for California-breds by 16 1/4 lengths in her debut at Santa Anita last Sunday, will be campaigned conservatively in the coming months.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Wednesday that a long-range goal for Enola Gray is the $150,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar on July 22.

Owned by breeder Nick Alexander, Enola Gray ($10.80) led throughout a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs, drawing away through the stretch. She was timed in 1:13.71, missing Square Eddie’s 2011 track record of 1:13.11.

“I’ll take my time and tentatively plan for the Fleet Treat,” D’Amato said. “I want to see how she bounces back. She did it so easily, and she came out of it like she didn’t run. Sometimes when they run like that, they can fool you. I’d like to put one or two races into her before the Fleet Treat.”

By Grazen, Enola Gray is out of Unsung Heroine, by More than Ready.

D’Amato, 40, was the leading trainer at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, his first such title. He led all trainers with eight stakes wins, including the Tokyo City Cup on April 3 with Big John B.

On Wednesday, D’Amato said that Big John B is a candidate for the $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Belmont Park on June 11 or the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita at 1 1/4 miles on June 25.

Owned by Michael House, Big John B, a 7-year-old gelding by Hard Spun, has won 15 of 40 starts and earned $849,770. He was claimed for $50,000 by House at Keeneland in April 2014 and has since earned $605,765.