Havanna Belle gets first-time blinkers in turf-mile feature
ARCADIA, Calif. – Losses in two turf stakes at Santa Anita this year have led to a drop in class and an equipment change for the 3-year-old filly Havanna Belle, who starts in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Thursday.
Havanna Belle was entered in Sunday’s $201,000 Honeymoon Stakes, but withdrawn to start in Thursday’s race at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies. For the first time in her career, Havanna Belle will be fitted with blinkers.
Owned by Michael House and trained by Phil D’Amato, Havanna Belle, an Irish-bred by Teofilo, will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano. Four of the runners in the field of seven started in turf stakes in their last starts.
Havanna Belle was fifth in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes, well in front of Sister of Mercy and Frosty Friday, who were 11th and 12th, and are entered on Thursday. Lookin for Money was sixth in the China Doll Stakes at a mile on turf on March 7, her most recent start.
KEY CONTENDERS
Havanna Belle (Beyers: 81-74)
◗ Havanna Belle has been plagued by slow starts in her first two races in the United States. She was sixth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths in the Sweet Life Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in February, closing from 10th in a field of 11.
◗ In the Providencia Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Havanna Belle was again off slowly but closed well to finish fifth, three lengths behind race winner Spirit of Xian. Spanish Queen, second in the Providencia, won the Honeymoon Stakes.
◗ Havanna Belle joined D’Amato’s stable last fall from Ireland, where she had one win in six starts, a maiden race against males at Bellewstown last August. Havanna Belle ran in minor races in Ireland last year, ending that portion of her career with a game second in a 20-runner race at a mile on turf against males at Leopardstown in October.
Miss Double d’Oro (Beyers: 82-58)
◗ After finishing a well-beaten fifth in her career debut in a maiden race on dirt in December, Miss Double d’Oro was the smart winner of a maiden race on the hillside turf course on April 11. She closed from last in a field of eight to take the lead in the final sixteenth.
◗ Martin Garcia was aboard for the maiden win and retains the mount for Calumet Farm and trainer Neil Drysdale.