Mandella's pair figure to show speed in turf allowances

A lightly raced maiden winner stretching out and a veteran mare shortening up will employ similar front-running tactics in separate turf allowances Friday at Santa Anita.

Richard Mandella trains both Affianced and Great Return, who enter Friday’s co-features with legitimate credentials. However, they face questions regarding distance and form.

Affianced could shake loose in race 1, an entry-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies. She wired maidens last out in a turf sprint that was just her second start. Can she stay a mile?

“I don’t see any problem with it,” Mandella said. “I think she should be just as good. I’m hoping even better.”

Affianced is expected to set the pace over five rivals, but she is no slam dunk. The field includes class-dropper Shines Her Light and intriguing imports Avenue de France and Over Attracted.

Great Return reappears in race 7, a second-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares. Although the 5-year-old has run well going short, her best races have been long, and she has not raced in eight months. Is she ready? Her trainer says yes.

“She’s training pretty sharp,” Mandella said. “I think she would run really good.”

The 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint is conspicuously short on speed. Great Return could find herself setting an easy pace, with token pressure from Sold It. Three others rally from behind – Querelle, Gypsy Blu, and Mischiffie.

Flavien Prat, 16 for 43 on turf since racing resumed, rides Affianced, a More Than Ready filly produced by graded winner All Star Heart. Even though Affianced won a maiden sprint by setting the pace, she is not speed crazy.

“She’s obviously got natural speed, but I think she’s good-minded enough [distance] won’t be any problem,” Mandella said. “She trains like a pretty good filly.”

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

The main rival for Affianced might be Shines Her Light, who stretches out and drops in class after finishing third in an allowance sprint against older fillies and mares. That race was won by Querelle, a leading contender in race 7.

Querelle is 2 for 3 in turf sprints this season and benefits from the circuit’s hottest trainer-jockey combination. Peter Miller and Prat went 5 for 7 last week and are 9 for 16 since racing resumed last month.

Meanwhile, jockey Drayden Van Dyke will try to shake out of an uncharacteristic case of doldrums with Great Return. Since racing resumed, Van Dyke is 4 for 54, with 10 seconds. Van Dyke and Great Return figure to set or press soft fractions.

First post Friday moves to 1 p.m. for the remainder of the meet that ends June 21.