Go Big Blue Nation working well for career debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – There are aspects of Go Big Blue Nation’s training in recent weeks that leave trainer Jeff Bonde encouraged about the 2-year-old filly’s debut in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita on Sunday.

“She’s been dominant with a lot of horses that I’ve tried her with,” Bonde said.

Go Big Blue Nation is part of a field of five fillies in the race at 4 1/2 furlongs. Owned by David and John Del Secco, Go Big Blue Nation has been working quickly, notably three furlongs in 35.80 seconds from the gate April 15, the fastest of 18 works at the distance that morning.

By Animal Kingdom, Go Big Blue Nation was purchased for $90,000 as a yearling.

“We’re optimistic we have a good chance,” Bonde said. “She’s trained very forward. She has a nice reach on her.”

Trainer Doug O’Neill has two runners in the field – the California-bred Acai and the Illinois-bred A Thousand Dreams. Acai, by Square Eddie, is out of Smoove and is a full sister to Smoove It, who won the 2016 Irish O’Brien Stakes at Santa Anita and earned $395,910. Acai races for Paul and Zillah Reddam, who campaigned Smoove It.

The other runners are Billy K, trained by Ryan Hanson, and Gracie’s Girl, trained by Marcia Stortz.