Miso Phansy to run in Solana Beach over Del Mar Oaks
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Miso Phansy is entered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks and Sunday’s $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar, and more likely to appear in the less valuable of the two races.
Miso Phansy fits in both races, but the Solana Beach represents “easier company,” trainer Leonard Powell said.
From a strategic standpoint, Sunday’s race may better suit Miso Phansy, who drew post 11 on Saturday and the inside post in a field of 11 in the Solana Beach.
“In the Del Mar Oaks, we didn’t get a very good post,” Powell said.
Miso Phansy has been competitive in graded stakes and against statebreds this year despite not winning at the highest level. At Santa Anita, Miso Phansy was a close second in two stakes, losing the California Cup Oaks for statebred 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf in January by a neck, and the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf in May by a nose.
Miso Phansy was only seventh of nine after a wide trip in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 20, a loss Powell summarily dismissed on Friday morning.
“The pace was a bit too slow and we were too far back,” he said. “She’s a better filly than that.”
Owned by the partnership of Ciaglia Racing and Robin Christensen, Miso Phansy has won 2 of 7 starts and earned $150,550. Her earnings could soar with a win on Sunday, particularly if a fast pace develops.
“Hopefully, we can make the most out of it,” Powell said. “She’s pretty versatile. She’s won going short and won going long. She’s always shown a good kick.”
Powell, 48, has won 12 stakes at Del Mar since 2016, but none so far at the current summer meeting which began on July 19 and continues through Sept. 7. Powell won the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar last August with Anisette, who has since been sold and is based in Australia.
Later this month, Powell hopes to run Nitti in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf. Nitti won the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf by 2 1/2 lengths in his stakes debut at Santa Anita on June 15 in his last start.
The winner of the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 30 receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Winning the Del Mar Handicap would be enough of an achievement for a still-developing 4-year-old such as Nitti, Powell said.
“The Breeders’ Cup is another territory,” he said.
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