Jolie Olimpica recovering from illness

Jolie Olimpica, winner of two graded stakes at Santa Anita this year, is recovering from a recent health setback that prevented her from starting in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint on Sept. 12.

Jolie Olimpica was found to be ill in the hours before she was scheduled to be flown from Santa Anita to Kentucky Downs.

“She had a 104 temperature,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “Thank God we didn’t put her on the airplane.”

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

Mandella said the temperature returned to normal after “a couple of days.”

Jolie Olimpica was second in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in July. She missed the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap on Aug. 8 at Del Mar because of a grabbed quarter, and an intended start in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 23 because of a brief bout with colic.

Owned by Rick Porter, the Brazilian-bred Jolie Olimpica has won 5 of 7 starts, including four stakes in Brazil and California. Earlier this year, she won two stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita – the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes in January in her American debut and the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes in May. In the Las Cienegas, Jolie Olimpica set a course record of 1:01.

Mandella has plans to run United and Royal Ship in turf stakes at Santa Anita.

United, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita last November, is expected to be favored in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship on Sept. 26. The $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship is a prep for the BC Turf on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. United was second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 22.

Royal Ship, third in the Del Mar Mile in his American debut, is scheduled to start in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf on Oct. 3. Royal Ship won a group stakes in Brazil last December and one in February.