Glorious Spring back from illness, ready for favorite distance
An illness derailed the 2023 season for Glorious Spring shortly after she beat winners for the first time in an allowance race for California-bred fillies and mares at Santa Anita in March.
Now recovered, Glorious Spring begins a campaign in the second half of the year with her first start against open company winners in a one-mile optional claimer at Los Alamitos on Sunday.
Trained by Dan Blacker for owner and breeder John Harris, Glorious Spring starts from the outside post in a field of six. Despite the gap between starts, Blacker is confident Glorious Song is ready.
“We’ve been waiting for this race to go,” Blacker said. “She feels like she’s fit and ready. I think she can win. I know she likes the distance.”
Glorious Spring has won 2 of 7 starts, with both wins at Los Alamitos. A 4-year-old filly by Grazen, Glorious Spring won her second start in a maiden race for statebred fillies and mares at six furlongs at Los Alamitos last September.
Glorious Spring was second or fourth in her next four starts in allowance races against statebreds before the breakthrough win at a mile at Santa Anita on March 27 in which she closed from last of five to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
Glorious Spring resumed workouts in early May.
“She’s won before at Los Al,” Blacker said. “I know she likes the track. She’s best over two turns.”
Glorious Spring, who will be ridden for the first time by Tiago Pereira, is one of three fillies in the field with wins in their last start.
Charlotte Harbor won a $20,000 claimer for non-winners of three at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on June 2 for her first win of the year in her fifth start. Charlotte Harbor was claimed that day by trainer Bob Hess Jr., and is entered for a $40,000 claiming price on Sunday. She is likely to have a forward position early.
The lightly raced Halosnheaven will start against winners for the first time on Sunday with ample promise. Trained by Bob Baffert for owner and breeder Hal Earnhardt, Halosnheaven won her 2023 debut in a six-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita on June 4, racing near the front throughout in her third career start.
Halosnheaven is by top stallion Curlin and out of Indian Blessing, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2007 and champion female sprinter of 2008.
Glorious Spring can give Blacker his first win since Straight No Chaser won the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Stakes at Pimlico on May 20.
Straight No Chaser was recently taken out of training after being diagnosed with an injury that will require rest until the fall. The goal of a start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 is not feasible, Blacker said.
“We caught the issue really early,” Blacker said. “He won’t be ready for the Breeders’ Cup. We’ll be conservative with him and point for next year.
“I feel very confident he’ll come back as good.”
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