Fault targeting Ogden Phipps Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Fault, a winner of three graded stakes at Santa Anita this year, will be sent to Belmont Park for the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes, to be run on June 9, trainer Phil D’Amato said on Sunday.

Fault won the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on May 6. Following that race, D’Amato said he was leaning toward the $700,000 Ogden Phipps for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles instead of the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on June 2, and on Sunday he confirmed that was the plan.

Owned by Agave Racing Stable and Little Red Father Racing, Fault joined D’Amato’s stable this year. She won the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf in her California debut in February and the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational at 1 1/8 miles by 6 1/2 lengths on March 17.

In the Adoration Stakes, Fault closed from last in a field of six to win by a half-length. By Blame, Fault has won 6 of 16 starts and earned $618,795.

The Beholder Mile will still have a strong field, including Unique Bella, the champion female sprinter of 2017; Paradise Woods, a winner of two Grade 1 races in 2017; and Selcourt, who won the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes for female sprinters in March.

On Sunday, Unique Bella worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:11, the fastest of 12 works at the distance.