Goodyearforroses eyes Grade 1 debut in Gamely Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Goodyearforroses, unbeaten in three starts since joining trainer Richard Baltas’s stable last fall, is likely to start in the first Grade 1 race of her career in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on May 27.

Baltas said on Friday that Goodyearforroses emerged from her win in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf March 12 in “great” condition. She won the $201,035 race by 1 3/4 lengths as the even-money favorite. Earlier at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, Goodyearforroses won the Robert Frankel Stakes on Dec. 31 and the Astra Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf Feb. 2.

“She won pretty easily the other day,” Baltas said. “We want to run in a Grade 1 if we can. The Gamely is a goal.”

Baltas said the timing between the Santa Ana and the Gamely is ideal. He said the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf April 30 is unlikely.

Owned by the Abbondanza Racing Stables partnership, Goodyearforroses has won 7 of 15 starts and earned $365,995. She was purchased for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November sale last year. In her three wins for her current owner and trainer, Goodyearforroses has earned $226,800.

• Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Friday at Santa Anita ahead of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 14. The Apple Blossom will be the first start for Stellar Wind since a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita last November. The BC Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 3 is a long-term goal.

Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Stellar Wind has won 7 of 12 starts and earned $1,453,200.