Istanford gets ready for older rivals

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Istanford is likely to run in one-mile turf races, and possibly meet older fillies and mares this fall after winning her second consecutive stakes in Friday’s $96,350 Sandy Blue Handicap for 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Istanford ($4.60) led throughout and won by 3 1/4 lengths over 16-1 Miss Machiavelli, finishing a mile on turf in 1:34.81. By the Gone West stallion Istan, Istanford won the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap over a mile on turf on July 19, the most prestigious win of her 11-race career.

Trainer Mike Stidham said that one-mile turf races such as the $400,000 First Lady Stakes against fillies and mares at Keeneland on Oct. 4, or the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 will be considered.

Stidham and co-owner Ike Thrash discussed whether to run Istanford in the Sandy Blue or wait for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks over 1 1/8 miles on turf on Saturday. They opted for the shorter race.

“You can always say, ‘What if?’ Stidham said on Saturday morning. “We hashed it over pretty hard and we decided the mile was her best distance.”

Istanford has won five races and $385,425.

Seduire pointed for Debutante

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has tentative plans to run the stakes winner Seduire and maiden race winner Tara’s Tango in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-olds fillies over seven furlongs on Aug. 30.

Seduire won the Wine Country Debutante at Santa Rosa on Aug. 8. Tara’s Tango beat maidens at Del Mar on July 20.

Hollendorfer said that Manahatta, a winner of a maiden race on Aug. 10, would wait for the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 27.

Other candidates for the Del Mar Debutante are Sunset Glow and La Grange, the first two finishers in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes on Aug. 6; and the maiden race winners Her Emmynency and Starlet O’Hara.