Mandella has high hopes for Peace

ARCADIA, Calif. - Peace won a maiden race against 2-year-olds Saturday, and trainer Richard Mandella is looking forward to running him in major stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

Peace won his third start, and first at 1 1/16 miles, in Saturday’s second race. Ridden by Mike Smith, Peace ($3.40) closed from fourth in the final three furlongs to finish three-quarters of a length in front of Regulate.

Peace left Mandella with the impression he is capable of greater improvement.

“I think he’s still learning,” Mandella said. “I’ve got hopes to dream bigger.”

Peace was second in a six-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita in September and second by a head in a one-mile maiden race at Del Mar on Nov. 23, losing to Shivermetimbers.

“We sprinted him and didn’t expect him to win that day,” Mandella said Saturday. “He got caught up with inexperience in his last race. Today, he did what he was supposed to do.”

Shivermetimbers is a candidate for Saturday’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile for 3-year-olds.

Mandella did not state any race goals for Peace, a colt by Violence who races for B. Wayne Hughes and Town and Country Farm. One race likely to be considered is the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 3.