Kopion possible for Great Lady M. Stakes in July

ARCADIA, Calif. - Kopion, who has emerged as the nation’s leading female sprinter in recent months, is under consideration for the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 5.

Trainer Richard Mandella said on Sunday that Kopion emerged from a win in the Grade 1, $1 million Derby City Distaff at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 3 in “very good” condition.

A start in the $200,000 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs would be part of a summer campaign designed to have Kopion in peak form for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

“Right now, we’ll look at it,” Mandella said of the Great Lady M. Stakes.

On Sunday at Santa Anita, Kopion “had a short gallop,” Mandella said.

:: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports available now.

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, the 4-year-old Kopion has won 5 of 7 starts and earned $1,024,700. Kopion has won her last three starts, all at seven furlongs, a span that includes the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita and the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes against older fillies and mares at Santa Anita on Feb. 1.

In the Derby City Distaff, Kopion closed from sixth of seven to win by three lengths in a quick 1:21.76. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 109.

The Great Lady M. Stakes is the richest race of the three-week Los Alamitos summer meeting that runs from June 20 to July 6.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.