Defiance seeks elusive win on added Monday card
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Defiance, a 4-year-old filly who starts in an allowance race on turf Monday at Del Mar, is out of Grade 1 winner Avenge and a sister to stakes-placed Venganza.
Understandably, there are hopes that Defiance can rise to stakes-level competition in coming months.
“I think there is a possibility there,” trainer Richard Mandella said Friday.
A win on Monday would propel that idea. Defiance, who will be ridden by Mirco Demuro, is part of a full field of 10 in the final race on the program. The allowance race drew 13 but will have a safety limit of 10 runners.
Monday’s nine-race program begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific and was a late addition to the track’s autumn calendar following the cancellation of Friday’s program because of rain.
After Monday, there are three days remaining at the autumn meeting, with racing scheduled for Friday through Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.
Defiance, owned and bred by Ramona and Perry Bass, won her debut at Santa Anita in a maiden race at a mile on turf in January but has lost her last six starts. In her most recent appearance, Defiance finished second by three-quarters of a length in an allowance race at a mile on turf after a slow start and a wide trip. Defiance led briefly in the stretch before she was caught by Laudatory.
“I thought it was her best race, maybe,” Mandella said.
On Monday, Defiance starts from post 3, which should suit her closing style.
“I think she’ll do well,” Mandella said.
Defiance is part of a competitive field that includes Ambaya and The Mizen Queen, who were second and third in an allowance race at a mile on turf Oct. 30 at Del Mar, and Source, a recent arrival from the East Coast now trained by Michael McCarthy.
Trainer Phil D’Amato starts Eternal Reign and Madonna of Loreto, who were fourth and seventh in allowance races in their last starts.
Eternal Reign was beaten two lengths in an allowance race at 1 1/4 miles on turf on Oct. 19 at Santa Anita after leading by a length with a furlong remaining. She will be fitted with blinkers for the first time Monday.
“We tried the longer race,” D’Amato said. “We thought ‘Let’s shorten her back up and put some blinkers on.’ We’ll see what we get.
“She’s training well enough. She’s a filly with some tactical speed.”
Madonna of Loreto, beaten 5 1/4 lengths in an allowance race at six furlongs on turf Sept. 28 at Santa Anita, drew the outside post. She was fourth by a half-length in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Sept. 1 at Del Mar in her last start in a two-turn race.
“She’s had the worst luck with post positions,” D’Amato said. “We’ll have to figure out a trip from there. She’s not without a shot. She’s a sneaky filly.”
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