ARCADIA, Calif. – Enola Gray had won her sixth stakes in her 11th start when she was sidelined by a soft-tissue injury last summer, weeks after a two-length win in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at Santa Anita. “I think she was at her peak,” trainer Phil D’Amato recalled Thursday. D’Amato has seen signs this spring that Enola Gray may return to that level when she starts for the first time in more than nine months in Saturday’s Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita. Enola Gray will need to be at her best. She is one several notable fillies in a field of nine in the $200,000 Royal Heroine, the 10th race on a 13-race program. The competition features Madame Stripes, the winner of the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes here in January; Thundering Sky, second in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes in February; and Midnight Crossing, who won the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes in January and was second in the Santa Ana Stakes on March 18. KEY CONTENDERS Enola Gray, by Grazen Last 3 Beyers: 99-91-96 ◗ A versatile 5-year-old, Enola Gray’s six stakes wins have come in sprints and two-turn races on turf and dirt. She has earned $573,100, all for owner and breeder Nick Alexander. “We’re lucky to have her back,” D’Amato said. “I can train her the way I want to.” ◗ D’Amato said he was encouraged by Enola Gray’s six-furlong workout in 1:15.20 from the gate on March 26, when the mare was ridden out aggressively by jockey Tyler Baze. “Her second-to-last workout was like a mile workout,” he said. “Tyler thought after that one she was fit to run. “She’s coming off a long layoff, the longest of her career, but her last couple of breezes have been really good.” ◗ Enola Gray races near the front, and D’Amato said there is no reason to expect a change in tactics. “She gets out there rolling, and if they want to go with her, so be it,” he said. ◗ Enola Gray could face pressure from Mongolian Shopper, who won the Wishing Well Stakes on the hillside turf course Feb. 24. Midnight Crossing, by Dark Angel Last 3 Beyers: 92-86-92 ◗ Midnight Crossing is also effective while racing near the front. Trained by Richard Baltas, the 5-year-old Midnight Crossing was beaten a half-length by stablemate Madam Dancealot in the Santa Ana Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf. “Obviously, I think more distance will be better for her,” Baltas said. “I think she’ll sit just off of it. I wouldn’t mind seeing her behind horses, covered up.” Thundering Sky, by Sky Mesa Last 3 Beyers: 94-94-84 ◗ Thundering Sky was beaten a length in the Buena Vista by Fault, who returned to win the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational on March 17. The Royal Heroine will be Thundering Sky’s eighth attempt at a graded stakes win. “I know there’s one with her name on it,” trainer George Weaver said.