Mandella has been patient getting Bal a Bali to Kilroe Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. - Plans have changed frequently for Bal a Bali in the last two years.

When Bal a Bali arrived in the United States in the summer of 2014, trainer Richard Mandella hoped the horse could be a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup. A bout with laminitis ended those plans and delayed Bal a Bali’s debut in this country until last May.

Bal a Bali won 2 of 5 starts in 2015, including the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita last May. Following a third in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 2, Mandella formed a new strategy. He skipped the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes on Feb. 13 to point for Saturday’s $400,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf.

“I took a little extra time to focus on this,” he said. “I think I’ve got a horse as good as he can be.”

Bal a Bali won the 2014 Rio Triple Crown in Brazil, and has won stakes at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/2 miles. Mandella contends Bal a Bali will be ready after a two-month break, citing a one-mile workout in 1:36.40 on March 1.

“It doesn’t get much better than that,” Mandella said.

Owned by Fox Hill Farm and Siena Farm, the 6-year-old Bal a Bali has won 13 of 18 starts and earned $691,478. Flavien Prat will ride Bal a Bali against a strong field in the Grade 1 Kilroe that is expected to include the stakes winners Bolo, Midnight Storm, Om, and What a View.

The Kilroe Mile is one of three graded stakes on the undercard of the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.

The $400,000 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds is a vital prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9. Candidates for the San Felipe includes Danzing Candy, Exxagerator, Mor Spirit, Smokey Image and Uncle Lino.

Mor Spirit and Uncle Lino were first and second in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 6. Smokey Image, unbeaten in six starts and the champion California-bred 2-year-old male of 2015, won the California Cup Derby on Jan. 30. The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles will be Smokey Image’s graded stakes debut.

Kobe’s Back, the winner of the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes on Feb. 7, is the leading contender for the $300,000 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs, a race expected to include Calculator, Cat Burglar, Salutos Amigos, San Onofre, and Wild Dude.