Living The Life may run back quickly in Rancho Bernardo
DEL MAR, Calif. – Living The Life had not run in almost four months prior to winning her U.S. debut Thursday, but she could come back a lot quicker for her next race, trainer Gary Mandella said Friday.
Living The Life was an easy winner of an optional claimer under jockey Mike Smith, so much so that Mandella said he is considering running Living The Life in the Grade 3, $150,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap on Aug. 17, a race expected to be topped by the defending race winner, Reneesgotzip, but not expected to have a large field.
“It’s only 10 days between races, which she’s done in England,” Mandella said. “She’s out of conditions, but there’s nothing else for her until the Maddy at Santa Anita in October, so we might just go ahead and run her back, knowing there’s still a good gap until the Maddy. I might play it right up to the last minute, enter, and then decide.
“She was really good yesterday. Mike didn’t ride her the last part, and she cooled out quickly, the way you’d like to see if you’re thinking of running her back quickly.”