Mandella hoping turf brings out best in first-time starter Three Strands
She cost $240,000 as a yearling, has a millionaire half-sister, and is out of a dam who won two stakes.
Three Strands, a filly by Empire Maker, has several things in her favor in advance of her first start in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Saturday. From trainer Richard Mandella’s perspective, Three Strands has talent, but has something to prove when she breaks from post 8 in a field of nine.
“She’s trains good, not great,” he said. “We’re hoping the turf brings out a little bit more in her.”
Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Three Strands is out of It Tiz, who won her debut at Del Mar in a maiden race on dirt in 2009 and later won two minor stakes. It Tiz is the dam of It Tiz Well, who won 5 of 10 starts, including the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing in her final start of 2017. It Tiz Well earned $1,130,840.
Three Strands will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who through Thursday led all riders by turf wins at the Del Mar summer meeting with 13. Overall, Rispoli ranked second with 15 wins behind clear leader Juan Hernandez, who had 30 wins.
In Saturday’s maiden race on turf, Hernandez rides the second-time starter La Paloma Blanca, who was sixth of eight in her debut in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf on Aug. 4.
The maiden race will be the second start for Always At Ease, a $400,000 purchase at a 2-year-olds in-training sale earlier this year who closed from last of 10 to finish fifth after a wide trip in a one-mile maiden race on turf in her debut on July 30.