Just Grazed Me carries heavy load in California Distaff

ARCADIA, Calif. – While everyday invisible stuff like wind and Wi-Fi is freely accepted, racing also includes inconspicuous subtleties – things like unrecorded workouts and problematic weight assignments.

Take, for example, Just Grazed Me, the classy mare who returns as the favorite in the $100,000 California Distaff Handicap on Saturday at Santa Anita. Just Grazed Me has not raced in four months, and two weeks have passed since her last published workout.

But she has, in fact, worked since then. Last Sunday in the early-morning fog at Los Alamitos, Just Grazed Me worked a sharp five furlongs, in company, in 1:00. The fog was too thick for clockers to see and record, but jockey Ramon Guce timed the work perfectly with his watch.

And according to trainer Phil D’Amato: “She’s fresh and ready for action.”

:: Get DRF Betting Strategies for Santa Anita’s Saturday card

A graded winner and class of the field, Just Grazed Me could be a cinch in the California Distaff, except for one big problem. The gray mare was assigned 126 pounds in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, conceding at least eight pounds to five rivals.

“I don’t think that’s fair, but that’s horse racing, and she is ready to run,” D’Amato said.

Just Grazed Me was an unheralded allowance filly last year when she won the California Distaff carrying four pounds less than stablemate S Y Sky, who struggled to finish third under 126. The situation is similar Saturday. In addition to Just Grazed Me, D’Amato also starts Althea Gibson.

“With the weight she got, 115, I’ll definitely take a shot in there,” he said.

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

Even though Althea Gibson wheels back in only 13 days, D’Amato does not see it being a problem. “At shorter grass distances, you can get away with these two-week comebacks,” he said. “They’re only running that last three-eighths of a mile.”

Althea Gibson overcame significant trouble to win a California-bred allowance Sept. 27, her second straight win. Althea Gibson, 3, and Just Grazed Me, 5, are sired by Grazen. Both are owned and bred by Nick Alexander.

Others in the California Distaff include Mark Glatt-trained Fantasy Heat and Gypsy Blu, Northern California-based Nardini, and dirt stakes winner Smiling Shirlee.

Just Grazed Me, 6 for 13, spent summer off the track.

“Nick took her to his farm, freshened her up, put on a little weight, and she’s come back very happy,” D’Amato said.

The California Distaff is short on speed, but Just Grazed Me and jockey Umberto Rispoli should be forwardly placed coming in off a layoff. Also, D’Amato happens to be the hottest turf-sprint trainer going.

D’Amato has won with 10 of his last 23 starters in turf sprints. Saturday, he also starts turf sprinter Leggs Galore in an entry-level allowance, race 4, and Miss Megan in a California-bred allowance that is race 6.