Paradise Woods remains on target for fall campaign

ARCADIA, Calif. – A seven-furlong work by Paradise Woods on Sunday morning at Santa Anita puts the 3-year-old filly on target for a fall campaign. The question is, will she run in a sprint, or a route?

Paradise Woods, the Santa Anita Oaks winner, was “body sore” following her sixth-place comeback last month at Del Mar. Trainer Richard Mandella said she recovered, and will make her next start in a graded stakes race at Santa Anita on Sept. 30 or Oct. 8.

“I’m not sure which way I’m going, the Zenyatta or the L.A. Woman,” Mandella said Sunday. The Grade 1, 1 1/16-mile Zenyatta on Sept. 30 is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

The Grade 3, 6 1/2-furlong L.A. Woman on Oct. 8 could set up Paradise Woods for a potential start in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. Southern California-based Unique Bella also is aiming at the L.A. Woman and BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

Mandella said Paradise Woods “worked very nice,” seven furlongs Sunday in 1:25.20. She stumbled leaving the gate and finished sixth in her Aug. 27 comeback in the Torrey Pines at Del Mar. “She was just body sore from scrambling and straining,” Mandella said. “So, we just have to start over again.”

Paradise Woods won the Santa Anita Oaks by 11 3/4 lengths in just the third start of her career, then finished 11th as the favorite in the Kentucky Oaks. Mandella said a determination on her next start would be made “in the next few days.”

Stellar Wind, early favorite for the BC Distaff with three Grade 1 wins this year, worked an easy five furlongs Sunday in 1:02. Trainer John Sadler said he is “leaning toward” skipping the Zenyatta and training Stellar Wind into the Distaff. A final decision will be made early next week.

Sadler-trained Shenandoah Queen, upset winner of a restricted stakes last month at Del Mar, would be Sadler’s starter in the Zenyatta if Stellar Wind skips.