Radiantly could give Motion first win of meet

ARCADIA, Calif. – If only Mother Nature had cooperated, the plan by a top East Coast stable might have worked out differently this winter at Santa Anita.

But the turf specialists whom trainer Graham Motion raced in California with assistant Aimee Dollase were met with an unusually wet season that compromised training and affected the course condition. Three months into the meet, Motion and Dollase are looking for their first win.

Frustrating?

“Yeah, it’s kind of been,” Dollase said. “We’ve had to certainly make some adjustments because of the rain, so it’s been frustrating from that standpoint. Everyone else is in the same position.”

The silver lining to an 0-for-18 record (two seconds, one third) is the condition of the horses. “The most important thing is they’re all coming back sound,” Dollase said. “It’s not like you had to turn out a bunch of horses. You’re going to go through streaks.”

The streak could end Thursday in race 7, a first-level turf allowance for fillies and mares in which Radiantly could provide the Motion stable its first win. The runner-up in her U.S. debut, Radiantly is expected to start favored in the 1 1/8-mile turf race.

Eight entered, including potential lone front-runner Handfull, the improving California-bred Lucy De, and two European imports making their U.S. debuts – Allowances and September Stars.

On a firm course with pace to flatter her rally, Radiantly would be formidable if she merely reproduced her first local start. But the field includes only the one true front-runner, and the weather outlook is not ideal.

Every horse Motion and Dollase have started at this meet is a closer who would have benefited from a contested pace. “That’s been one of our issues all meet – we just haven’t had races set up for us,” Dollase said.

Furthermore, seven of the stable’s 18 starters raced over wet footing (good, wet-fast, or sloppy). Dollase reviewed this week’s forecast with resignation: “It’s supposed to rain, right?”

Rain was expected Tuesday and Wednesday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Radiantly, by Aussie Rules
Beyer: 81

◗ Brice Blanc rides the late-running Radiantly, potentially compromised by the course profile. Four of the last six turf races at 1 1/8 miles were won by the pacesetter.

Handfull, by Comic Strip
Last 3 Beyers: 77-84-47

◗ The likely pacesetter making her first start since May, she has won 15 of 35.

Lucy De, by Decarchy
Last 3 Beyers: 80-74-73

◗ Her gradually improving pattern is typical for trainer Mike Puype. He rarely wins with first-time starters (California Journey being an exception on Sunday). Puype’s runners generally improve as they mature and gain experience.

◗ Lucy De finished fourth last out, a half-length behind Radiantly.

Allowances, by Street Sense
No Beyers

◗ She was purchased for less than $100,000 at a Deauville sale in December and makes her U.S. debut for trainer Jim Cassidy having won one of four.

◗ Cassidy is using the allowance as a prep race. “I doubt if she’s fit enough to go a mile and eighth. I wanted to get a race into her,” he said.

◗ Allowances is the first named foal produced by a 1-for-6 sibling to Grade 1 winner Telling.