Kopion to try mile in Las Virgenes, eyes potential Kentucky Oaks try

Kopion, the unbeaten 3-year-old filly who has won two starts in sprints by more than nine lengths, will start at a mile in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 4, a new distance that trainer Richard Mandella hopes will lead to seven-figure races this spring.

Kopion won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs by 3 3/4 lengths at Del Mar in November, and her stakes debut with an easy win by 5 3/4 lengths at 1-5 in the Grade 3 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita last Sunday.

The $100,000 Las Virgenes Stakes is part of the buildup to the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on April 6.

“I don’t see any reason why she wouldn’t like it,” Mandella said of the longer distance.

Mandella has hopes that Kopion can develop into a candidate for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs on May 3. Churchill Downs management announced on Wednesday that the Kentucky Oaks purse will be $1.5 million, an increase from $1.25 million in 2023.

“That gets my attention,” Mandella said.

Kopion, by Omaha Beach, races for Spendthrift Farm.

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