Gratefully ready to go on turf or dirt

ARCADIA, Calif. – On turf and wet dirt tracks, Gratefully compiled an unbeaten record in three starts at Saratoga and Aqueduct in the second half of 2025.

The experience could be vital for a potential fourth win in her California debut on Thursday at Santa Anita.

Gratefully, trained by Robert Falcone Jr., is entered in a six-furlong allowance race for fillies and mares on turf, but an unsettled forecast could result in the race being run on the main track.

“She’d still run,” Falcone said Sunday.

Gratefully is part of a field of nine in the seventh race of a nine-race program that begins at noon Pacific.

A 4-year-old filly by Laoban, Gratefully is one of two runners in the field with wins in their last starts. Young Love, trained by Peter Miller, won an allowance race at five furlongs on turf on Nov. 23 at Del Mar, her fourth win in seven starts.

A quick filly, Young Love has won three times on turf and once on dirt since mid-June. She has won from the front and from slightly off the pace.

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Gratefully, who races for the partnership of the Adelphi Racing Club and Russell and Shelly Hume, has led or disputed the pace in each of her wins. She won a $50,000 claimer for maidens at Saratoga in August in her first start and a starter allowance at Aqueduct in September on sealed main tracks.

In her turf debut Oct. 26 at Aqueduct, Gratefully led throughout an allowance race, winning by a nose after a duel through the stretch.

“I think that filly can do anything,” Falcone said. “She can turf. She can dirt. She can slop. She can mud.

“She’s ready to run. If it stays on the grass, great. We’re hoping the weather pushes off and goes somewhere else.”

A rainy day and a move to dirt will affect field size. Trainer Dan Blacker said Monday that the chance of Marian Cross starting on dirt was “very slim,” pending a conversation with owners Qatar Racing.

“I’ve been pointing to this race for six weeks,” Blacker said. “It’s disappointing, but what can you do.”

Marian Cross was fifth in the Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf on Oct. 31 at Del Mar in her final start for trainer Brendan Walsh. She joined Blacker’s stable days later.

Miller also has entered Bit’s Tiger Magic, a winner of 4 of 7 starts. Bit’s Tiger Magic has won three times in turf sprints and once on dirt. She can lead or stalk the pace.

A move to dirt would enhance the chances of Donttellourwives, who was last of 12 in the Grade 3 John Harris Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course Sept. 27 at Santa Anita in her last start after a troubled trip.

Last spring, Donttellourwives won consecutive sprints on dirt at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos with a closing style that could be a benefit if a quick pace develops Thursday.

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