Linda's Gift may have to try new strategy in Astra Stakes

Linda’s Gift stole the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in November for her first stakes win, setting slow fractions and holding on to win by three-quarters of a length.

Winning in that same manner may be impossible in Sunday’s $100,000 Astra Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita, but may not be necessary for another successful race.

“I think it has to do with pace,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “The rider knows her.”

Linda’s Gift was ridden by Tiago Pereira in the Red Carpet, the 5-year-old mare’s third win in her 11-race career and her second victory in five starts since joining Mandella’s stable in late 2022. Earlier that year, Linda’s Gift won a maiden race at about a mile at Gulfstream Park from off the pace when trained by George Weaver.

The ability to adapt and stalk the pace could be key for Pereira aboard Linda’s Gift in the Astra Stakes, which drew a field of seven.

Leisurewear, unraced since June, has won two of her last four starts by leading or disputing the pace. She will race beyond 1 1/8 miles and in a stakes for the first time in the Astra. Rose Barton, claimed for $25,000 at Del Mar in November when fifth, has also shown speed. The Astra is Rose Barton’s stakes debut.

The race is scheduled to start on the hillside turf course, but the forecast of rain could lead to changes. If there is moderate rainfall, the race could be moved to the main turf oval, should officials have concerns about the crossing from the hillside to the main turf course. If excessive rain falls and racing goes ahead, the Astra Stakes could be run on the main track.

Aside from Linda’s Gift, the only other stakes winner in the field is Duvet Day, who won the 2023 Astra Stakes. Musical Rhapsody, second in the Red Carpet in her stakes debut, is part of the Astra field and a threat from off the pace.

Linda’s Gift, who races for the partnership of John Cronin, Anthony DiMarco, Michael Mandara, Fred Nicotra, and Vincent Varvaro, will start in her third consecutive stakes in the Astra Stakes. She was a troubled fourth in the restricted Kathryn Crosby Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar in early November, stalking the pace before racing in traffic at a pivotal time in early stretch.

Mandella said he has seen steady progress in Linda’s Gift’s training since the Red Carpet.

“I’m hoping she keeps doing as good,” he said.

Sunday’s race will be Duvet’s Day’s first start since she finished fourth of six against males in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita last June.

Duvet Day resumed workouts in early December at the San Luis Rey Downs training center.

“She seems like she’s relished her time at San Luis Rey,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “It’s quiet and it suits a filly like her. I expect her to run big off the bench.”

Duvet Day closed from eighth of nine to win last year’s Astra Stakes. In April, she closed from fifth in a field of six to finish second by a neck in the Santa Barbara Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

McCarthy is hoping a similar trip unfolds for the 5-year-old mare on Sunday.

“There will be some pace to follow,” he said. “Furlongs are her thing.”

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