Neige Blanche figures a heavy favorite in Astra
ARCADIA, Calif. – There are enough turf marathons for fillies and mares at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting to keep the four-time stakes winner Neige Blanche active until June.
The first objective is Monday’s Grade 3 Astra Stakes at 1 1/2 miles, followed by the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes on March 26, Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes on May 14, and the $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes on June 19, closing day of the season. All of those races are run at 1 1/4 miles or farther.
“We have a good season that will work for her,” trainer Leonard Powell said Friday.
Neige Blanche started in three of those races last year, winning the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes at 1 1/2 miles in May.
Later in 2021, Neige Blanche won the minor CTT and TOC Handicap at Del Mar in August, finished fourth in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita in October, and was the 11-1 upset winner of the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Nov. 25 at Del Mar.
Neige Blanche set the pace in the Red Carpet Handicap, holding off a late threat from 3-10 favorite Luck.
“Last time, she was on the lead because there was no pace,” Powell said. “If someone wants to go, she can stalk. She’s proved she’s efficient at both styles.”
On Jan. 1, Luck returned to win the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita, a race that did not include Neige Blanche.
A 5-year-old French-bred, Neige Blanche races for the partnership of Madaket Stable, Laura de Seroux, Marsha Naify, and Powell’s wife, Mathilde. De Seroux is a former trainer whose stable included 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri.
The $125,000 Astra Stakes drew a field of five. Neige Blanche will be a heavy favorite against four rivals who have yet to win a stakes.
“She looks healthy and she’s doing well,” Powell said. “It’s the most logical spot.”
The field lacks clear leaders, which could result in jockey Juan Hernandez putting Neige Blanche on the front end.
Aside from Neige Blanche, Scherzo is the only runner with a last-race win. Trained by Manuel Badilla at Golden Gate Fields, Scherzo won an allowance race at a mile on the synthetic main track there on Jan. 2 and will have her stakes debut in the Astra.
Disappearing Act, eighth in an allowance race on Nov. 25 at Del Mar, and Frose, sixth in an allowance race on Nov. 28 at Del Mar, also are making their first starts in stakes.
Reiwa, a winner of 4 of 18 starts, was fourth in the minor Miss America Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 12 at Golden Gate Fields.
Neige Blanche is the only runner in the field with experience at the distance, another reason she is expected to give a dominant performance.