Prat convinces D'Amato to run Alice Marble on dirt in Spring Fever
On the occasions jockey Flavien Prat has exercised Alice Marble for trainer Phil D’Amato in recent years, their post-workout discussions have often focused on an ideal surface for the mare.
“Every time Flavien breezes her, he says she is way better on the main track,” D’Amato said. “He tells me this every time.”
Prat’s opinion has swayed D’Amato. On Sunday at Santa Anita, Alice Marble, a two-time stakes winner on turf, will start in a stakes on dirt for the first time in the $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs.
“I usually don’t listen to jockeys,” D’Amato said. “He’s told me so many times I’ve relented and taken his advice. Hopefully, it will get us to the winner’s circle.”
Alice Marble, who is 3 for 3 in dirt races other than stakes, was bred and is owned by Nick Alexander. She drew the rail in a field of five in the Spring Fever. The race includes the stakes winners Chancery Way and Eddie’s New Dream, and Doris Mae and Taming the Tigress, who are stakes-placed.
Eddie’s New Dream is a two-time stakes winner in sprints for statebreds on turf, but was winless in four stakes on dirt earlier in her career. She can pose a threat from off the pace.
Doris Mae is expected to lead, but maintaining that advantage through the stretch depends on how much early pressure she faces from Chancery Way and the expected late threat from Alice Marble, Eddie’s New Dream, and Taming the Tigress.
Chancery Way has won 4 of 5 starts, all in Northern California, and is unbeaten in three starts in sprints. Taming the Tigress was a game second in the Betty Grable Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at Del Mar in November in her last start on dirt.
Doris Mae, trained by Carla Gaines for owner and breeder Richard Barton, finished third in the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs on Dec. 31 in her stakes debut. Doris Mae dueled for the lead through an opening quarter-mile in 21.97 seconds and faded to finish 1 3/4 lengths behind Lady T.
“She’s pretty one dimensional, but she’s a natural from the gate,” Gaines said. “It’s not like we’re asking her to go 21.”
Gaines said she has been encouraged by Doris Mae’s recent workouts, including five furlongs in 58.80 seconds on Feb. 5. Though that workout and others have been quick, Gaines thinks jockey Juan Hernandez can conserve some of Doris Mae’s speed for the stretch.
“Her last couple of works were fast, but she did it in a beautiful manner, better than before,” Gaines said. “She’s relaxing a little more in the workouts. Hopefully all that morning stuff will pay off in the afternoon.”
Alice Marble will not be far from the front, a style that led to her stakes wins on turf last year.
“The rail is never ideal, but the filly is very tactical,” D’Amato said. “I breeze her on the inside all the time in workouts. I’m sure Flavien will get her in a tactical position.”
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