Kopion's debut romp makes her one to beat in Santa Ynez

The polished manner in which Kopion won a maiden race at Del Mar in November has left trainer Richard Mandella hoping Sunday’s Grade 3 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita will be the launch of a memorable 2024 season.

“She’s always trained like a real good one,” Mandella said. “She’s done everything right.”

Kopion, an Omaha Beach filly owned by Spendthrift Farm, won her debut Nov. 26 by closing from fourth in a field of six to lead in early stretch. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Kopion cruised to a comfortable 3 3/4-length win as the 3-10 favorite.

“She trained like that,” Mandella said.

Mandella’s expectations remain high. Kopion is a half-sister to Amis Gizmo, Canada’s champion 3-year-old male of 2016.

During December, Kopion had a series of sharp works, including six furlongs in 1:12.60 on Christmas morning. While the filly stalked the pace in her debut, Mandella said he would not be surprised if Kopion raced closer to the lead in the Santa Ynez.

“You don’t know about a filly with a second start,” Mandella said. “Sometimes they get hyped up. We’ll have to leave it up to Flavien.”

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Kopion will start from the inside post in the $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes, which is for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. She is part of a field of five that includes Petit Filet and Tambo, who have placed in stakes, and the claiming race winners Bossy Bruin Gal and Don’t Bring Crazy.

The Santa Ynez offers Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to its top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.

Tambo, second in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at seven furlongs on Nov. 18 at Del Mar, and Petit Filet, second in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita in November, race near the front.

Tambo was second in the Anoakia Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita in October and was beaten a nose in the Desi Arnaz Stakes by Nothing Like You, who returned to win the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos in December.

Tambo, who won an $80,000 claiming race for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in her second start in July, was held out of the Starlet Stakes because of the distance, trainer Peter Eurton said.

“She acts like a sprinter to me,” Eurton said. “She’s fast. I’ve got to say that. She’s aggressive.”

Tambo starts from post 2, with Petit Filet in post 4.

Petit Filet, trained by Alfred Vuocolo, was near the front in the Soviet Problem Stakes for California-bred fillies at a mile on Dec. 10 at Los Alamitos in her most recent start before fading to finish fourth.

Petit Filet bumped with a rival in the stretch, an incident that was the subject of a rider’s objection. The stewards did not change the order of finish.

Even if Tambo can outrun Petit Filet in the first half of the race, Eurton knows that Kopion will be difficult to outfinish.

“I think the horse to beat is the Mandella horse,” he said. “She looked pretty good.”

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