Maiden winner Vivacious Vanessa eyes Golden State Juvenile Fillies

ARCADIA, Calif. – Vivacious Vanessa looked beaten in a one-mile maiden special weight race for California-bred 2-year-old fillies on turf on Saturday at Santa Anita – until she reached the eighth pole.

Ridden by Joe Bravo, Vivacious Vanessa closed from fourth through the final furlong to win by 1 1/2 lengths at odds of 7-2 for owner Thomas Nichols and trainer Gary Mandella.

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On Sunday, Mandella said he was debating whether to switch surfaces with Vivacious Vanessa and run her in the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies for statebreds at seven furlongs on dirt on Nov. 5 at Del Mar. The Golden State Juvenile Fillies is part of the undercard of the first day of the Breeders’ Cup races.

“I’ll have to see how she bounces out of it,” Mandella said.

Vivacious Vanessa was purchased for $90,000 as a yearling and is by the Giant’s Causeway stallion Not This Time. Mandella said that if Vivacious Vanessa handles dirt, it would open options for 2022.

“My hunch is she’s a little better on turf,” he said.

The $200,000 California Cup Oaks at a mile on turf for statebred 3-year-old fillies on Jan. 15 at Santa Anita is a long-range thought for Vivacious Vanessa, Mandella said.