Enola Gray eyes Rancho Bernardo Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif. – Enola Gray extended her unbeaten streak to three races in Friday’s $147,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for 3-year-old California-bred fillies at Del Mar, enhancing trainer Phil D’Amato’s deep team of prospects in the division for late summer.

Keeping them apart will be tricky.

D’Amato said on Saturday that he is debating race options for Enola Gray, Coppa, and Bellamentary. A preliminary plan is to run Enola Gray against older fillies and mares in the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 17. The Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo would be the stakes debut against older horses for Enola Gray.

Bellamentary, second to the undefeated Songbird in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 18, is likely to run in the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile Aug. 28. Coppa, who won the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park on July 9, may be sent back to New York for the $300,000 Prioress Stakes, a Grade 2 race at six furlongs for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga on Sept. 4.

“I want to separate them and do right by them,” D’Amato said.

Enola Gray has won her three career races by a combined 26 1/4 lengths. She won the Fleet Treat Stakes by 7 3/4 lengths under a confident ride from jockey Tyler Baze.

Enola Gray ($2.20) disputed the early pace with Fantasy of Luck before taking command on the turn. She pulled away quickly and won without being urged over Allsquare. Enola Gray ran seven furlongs in 1:21.24.

“I like that she waited a little bit, and when Tyler asked her, she took off,” D’Amato said. “I think she’s coming along.”

Owned by breeder Nick Alexander, Enola Gray has earned $239,100. She won a maiden race at Santa Anita by 16 1/4 lengths on April 10 and her stakes debut in the Melair Stakes for statebred 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on May 28, scoring by 2 1/4 lengths.