Nickname ready to run on turf or dirt

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 winner Nickname will make her California debut in a second-level optional $62,500 claimer for fillies and mares in Friday’s first race at Santa Anita.

The new surroundings are just part of several changes for the 4-year-old Nickname. She joined trainer Richard Mandella’s stable late last year and will race on turf for the first time Friday – if the race stays on the hillside turf course.

There is the potential for wet weather in Southern California, which could lead to the race being transferred to the main track. Regardless of the surface, Mandella wants to run Nickname on Friday.

“We know she can run on dirt,” he said. “I can’t imagine she wouldn’t like the turf. I want to get her started.”

Nickname is part of a field of 10 going about 6 1/2 furlongs, a group that includes Roo’s Valentine, who won the Soviet Problem Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies in 2015; Surfside Tiara, who won the minor Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies here in 2015; and Lajatico, the winner of an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar in November.

Race 1

KEY CONTENDERS

Nickname, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 78-85-80

◗ Owned by Larry Roth’s LNJ Foxwoods, Nickname won 2 of 8 starts and earned $523,350 for trainer Steve Asmussen in 2015 and 2016. At 2, Nickname won the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park and was fourth behind the champion Songbird in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland.

◗ Last year, Nickname was winless in four starts but finished second or third in four stakes. She was second in the Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland in April and a well-beaten third behind Carina Mia in the Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs in May, her final start of the year.

◗ Nickname has had a steady pattern of workouts at Santa Anita since early December despite wet conditions in recent months.

“We missed a little bit of training here and there,” Mandella said. “I would expect her to run well. She could be a little short and need a race.”

Surfside Tiara, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 68-79-66

◗ Surfside Tiara had a limited campaign at 3 in 2016, finishing fifth in two starts. She was a well-beaten fourth in an optional claimer at seven furlongs on a wet-fast track Jan. 21, her first start in nearly eight months.

◗ Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Surfside Tiara had brighter form at 2, winning the Anoakia at six furlongs. Like Nickname, Surfside Tiara has not raced on turf.

Lajatico, by Equiano

Last 3 Beyers: 56-86-73

◗ Lajatico was the sharp winner of an optional claimer on turf at Del Mar but was last of four on a sloppy and sealed track in the Las Cienegas Stakes on Jan. 7. A return to turf or a main track in better condition could make this filly a factor.