Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf: Havana Angel starts fresh chapter

This has been a busy year for Havana Angel, who has raced five times, been sold at auction, made a transatlantic flight, and will have her U.S. debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.

Havana Angel began her career in Great Britain, where she was winless in three starts in April and May. In France in June, Havana Angel won a maiden race by nine lengths and was third in a Group 3 at Chantilly before being sold for $335,000 at an auction in France in July.

Now racing for Marsha Naify and former trainer Laura de Seroux, Havana Angel has been based with Leonard Powell at Del Mar since late July.

An Irish-bred filly by Havana Grey, Havana Angel will race at a mile for the first time in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, which drew a field of 11. Leading rider Juan Hernandez has the mount on Havana Angel, who often races on or near the lead.

In the Group 3 Prix du Bois at six furlongs on June 19, Havana Angel set the pace, but faded in the final quarter-mile to finish third by 2 3/4 lengths.

Powell said Havana Angel has shown signs of patience in recent weeks.

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“She’s been very manageable in the mornings,” he said. “She should handle the mile.

“She’s very straightforward. We’ve only worked her on the turf and every work has been better than the others.”

Of the 11 entrants, Havana Angel is the only runner with a placing in an open stakes. Sell the Dream was third in the CTBA Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs on dirt on Aug. 7.

Trained by Brian Koriner, Sell the Dream won her debut in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf against open company at Santa Anita on June 10, leading throughout.

Koriner said Sell the Dream is not reliant on that style. Sell the Dream closed from seventh of eight in the CTBA Stakes.

“I think it’s wherever she relaxes the best,” he said. “I think she’ll give us the mile. I think she’ll run really well.”

There were two supplemental entries for $1,000 on Wednesday – Candy Caramel and Pride of the Nile. Candy Caramel is winless in three starts for trainer Peter Miller. Pride of the Nile, a $140,000 yearling purchase, is a first-time starter. She was on the also-eligible list for a maiden race Friday.

Trainer Phil D’Amato has three runners, all Irish imports this summer – Comanche Country, a maiden race winner in her American debut on July 30, and the recent arrivals Excelia and Thebestisyettobe.

Comanche Country overcame trouble to rally from off the pace in a one-mile race on July 30.

“She loves to train,” D’Amato said. “She’s going to run that well or better.”

Excelia was fifth in the Tipperary Stakes at five furlongs at Tipperary Racecourse in June.

“It will be a question if she can handle the distance,” D’Amato said. “She’s acclimated well.”

Thishasyettobe won her debut in a seven-furlong maiden race at Gowran Park on July 23, racing near the front throughout.

“She won ultra-impressive over there,” D’Amato said. “In the gallop-out, it looked like she wanted to run another three-quarters of a mile.”