Nimbostratus needs to keep straight line in Surfer Girl

Nimbostratus led by a half-length in the stretch of the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf when she made a costly error, drifting to the outside and bothering a rival.

Nimbostratus was caught by race favorite Madone in the final strides, losing by a half-length as a 19-1 outsider. Worse, Nimbostratus was demoted from second to third for causing interference.

Despite the setbacks, there were positive aspects of the performance for Nimbostratus, who starts in Sunday’s $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita.

“She ran very wide and a little green, but it gave us a little confidence going forward,” trainer Peter Miller said.

Miller will have a better idea of where he stands with Nimbostratus after the Surfer Girl Stakes, a mile race on turf. Madone, unbeaten in two starts, leads a field of nine 2-year-old fillies in the Surfer Girl Stakes and is expected to again be favored.

Nimbostratus, a French-bred filly, started twice in Ireland in June and July, winning a maiden race in her final start in that country. The Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf was her stakes debut. A successful race in the Surfer Girl could lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 6.

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“If she runs the same or better, we’ll probably take a shot at it,” Miller said. “Hopefully she gets a better trip this time. She will be off the pace.”

Nimbostratus will be ridden for the first time by Tiago Pereira and breaks from post 8. “He will have to save ground, but it’s not too big of a field,” Miller said.

Canoodling drew the outside post for her second appearance in a stakes. Canoodling was a troubled fifth in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, racing in traffic in the stretch. She was beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Madone, but only by a head for fourth.

Flavien Prat rides Madone, who was the 5-1 winner of a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf in her July 31 debut. She won by a length over Ivy League, the third-place finisher in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Madone stumbled at the start of the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, but recovered quickly to take a position as a stalker.

“She came out of the race well,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “I think she overcame a few things.

“She’s been on a good pattern since the win. I think she’s going into this race doing well.”

Callaghan is looking for a victory on Sunday for a reason to take Madone to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Miller also starts Maxim Strider, who won her debut in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 28.

Consternation and Pizzazz have respectable form. Consternation won her American debut in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 6, drawing clear in the final sixteenth.

Pizzazz was second in her debut in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 28, closing with interest.