Fanticola to go long in CTT and TOC Handicap
DEL MAR, Calif. – Fanticola has been effective in races from 6 1/2 furlongs to 10 furlongs, and she’ll try to carry her speed all the way out to 1 3/8 miles on Friday in the $75,000 CTT and TOC Handicap, for older female grass runners.
Seven are signed up for the California Thoroughbred Trainers and Thoroughbred Owners of Californian Handicap, which goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 4 p.m. Pacific. The rails are set 30 feet from their innermost position, which often aids front-runners, and Fanticola looks like the controlling speed in the race. She appears to be in a good spot to get her first victory of the year.
“The longer, the better for her,” said Phil D’Amato, who trains Fanticola. “She’ll be forwardly placed, and Joe knows her very well.”
“Joe” is Joe Talamo, who has been aboard Fanticola for her last nine starts, seven of which resulted in top-three finishes.
Fanticola has competed in races this year ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt to 1 1/8 miles on grass.
“She can do it all,” D’Amato said. “She’s one of those jack-of-all-trade kind of fillies.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Fanticola, by Silent Name
Last 3 Beyers: 92-95-94
◗ She has won just one of her last 10 starts but largely has competed against the very best on this circuit during that time, which included a win in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita in 2015.
◗ She most recently finished second in an optional claimer over this course that marked her first race outside of graded-stakes company since February 2015.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Fanticola. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 14-0-2-1 over the past five years in turf routes at Del Mar with Joe Talamo aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Dressed to a T, by Square Eddie
Last 3 Beyers: 88-87-72
◗ She beat a first-level allowance field in her last start, so this is a step up in class, but that win was here at 1 3/8 miles on turf, so she obviously can handle the distance, and she’s never finished worse than second in three starts over this course.
Generosidade, by Nedawi
Last 3 Beyers: 81-85-95
◗ This long-distance grass specialist scored a 71-1 upset victory over males in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey going 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita in March and was then second in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano going 1 7/8 miles, also against males.
◗ She is back in California after racing in Kentucky and New York in her last two starts. This will be her first race on Del Mar’s turf.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Generosidade. Trainer Paulo Lobo is 18-1-2-2 with a $0.37 ROI over the past five years at Del Mar.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Annulment, by Broken Vow
Last 3 Beyers: 93-87-71
◗ Trainer Vicki Oliver has a terrific record shipping into Del Mar in recent years (e.g., She’s Not Here, Personal Diary), and this mare seems to be rounding into form, having earned her best Beyer Speed Figure in nearly a year in her last start.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Annulment. Trainer Vicki Oliver is 18-6-2-2 with a $6.33 ROI over the past five years in turf races at Del Mar. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan