Odisseia preps for stakes in optional claimer
ARCADIA, Calif. – Odisseia had a rough first month in the United States during the summer.
“She got sick off the plane,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I was playing catch-up all of Del Mar.”
Odisseia finished seventh in her American debut, the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 16. She returns to racing in an optional claimer over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Thursday, a race that could lead to a stakes appearance as soon as the end of this month.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Odisseia. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 49-13-3-6 with a $4.43 ROI over the past five years in turf routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“She’s training very well, and she’s acclimated,” D’Amato said. “I think she’s ready to show her form.”
Owned by Michael House, Odisseia has won 2 of 8 starts. She previously raced in Ireland and England. D’Amato said the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over a mile on turf Oct. 25 is a possibility for Odisseia.
KEY CONTENDERS
Odisseia (Last Beyer: 71)
Odisseia is one of three 3-year-old fillies in the field, along with Free Money and Tiz the Key.
In England, Odisseia was ninth of 24 3-year-old fillies in the $118,700 Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot in June. The winner of that race, Muteela, won a listed stakes at Redcar racecourse in England last Saturday.
Hijra (Last 2 Beyers: 83-83)
Hijra finished third and first in two races here in the spring after arriving from France but has not started since May 30. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Hijra is likely to race near the pace under jockey Rafael Bejarano.
In her win over 1 1/8 miles on turf May 30, Hijra was third early and took the lead in early stretch, winning by 1 1/2 lengths.
Aguafria (Last Beyer: 83)
Trained by Neil Drysdale, Aguafria was third in an optional claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf May 25, closing from eighth in a field of 10 to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind Moulin de Mougin. At Del Mar, Moulin de Mougin won the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes on turf.
Aguafria was stakes-placed on the all-weather track at Deauville, France, last December. She was an allowance race winner over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Longchamp in Paris in 2013.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Aguafria. Trainer Neil Drysdale is 20-1-2-3 with a $0.48 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with Corey Nakatani up. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Winning Rhythm (Last 3 Beyers: 86-NA-78)
Winning Rhythm was eased in an optional claimer over a mile on turf here in June but rebounded to win a similar race over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on July 26.
Trained by Paddy Gallagher, Winning Rhythm is a closer who has won 2 of 8 starts.