La Force may go back to turf for Mabee Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – La Force, the winner of the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita on June 1, is a candidate for the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes on turf on Aug. 31, co-owner Chuck Winner said over the weekend.

La Force was third in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares on dirt on July 28, finishing 5 1/4 lengths behind Ollie’s Candy.

Co-owned by Roberta and Ward Williford and trained by Paddy Gallagher, La Force was a winner on turf in Italy in 2016 in her first start. She ran on turf at the start of her American career in 2016, finishing third in the Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

La Force was winless in nine starts on turf in 2016 and 2017 for Gallagher before she was switched to dirt. Winner, who is also chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, said La Force’s participation in the $200,000 Mabee Stakes depends on how she performs in turf workouts in coming weeks.

“We’ll see how she works on the grass,” Winner said. “We don’t have anything to lose.”

The Mabee Stakes is a goal for Vasilika, who was third as the 9-10 favorite in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, finishing a half-length behind Beau Recall.

Vasilika closed with interest to be closest to the front at the finish. “She got started a jump late,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Race plans have not been determined for Beau Recall, according to Nick Cosato, who directs the Slam Dunk Racing partnership that co-owns the mare with Medallion Racing.