Retro fresh for Blue Norther Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – November was a bummer of a month for the 2-year-old filly Retro.

Retro was left out of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 3 when the race oversubscribed, and was scratched from the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 25 because of illness.

Those disappointments aside, high hopes remain for Retro, who could go favored in Sunday’s $75,000 Blue Norther Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita. The Blue Norther will be Retro’s first start since a third in the Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 9.

Trainer Richard Mandella said the layoff is not a concern “if I’ve trained her properly.”

“The report card will come back that night,” Mandella said. “She’s trained nicely, strong and steady.”

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KEY CONTENDERS

Retro, by Giant’s Causeway
Beyers: 72-67

◗ Owned by Larry Roth, who races as LNJ Foxwoods, Retro won her debut in a one-mile maiden race at Del Mar on Sept. 4. In the Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf, Retro closed steadily to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind Fatale Bere, who was later fifth in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf and eighth in the Durante.

◗ Retro missed the Durante because of a mild illness, Mandella said.

“It was mucus, baby stuff,” Mandella said. “It was nothing serious.”

◗ Mike Smith will ride Retro for the first time, replacing Flavien Prat, who will be serving a suspension for a riding infraction.

Treasuring, by Havana Gold
Beyer: 72

◗ Treasuring was seventh at 45-1 in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at five furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 4 in her American debut.

“I thought it was a good, solid first race,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “She needs more distance. I’m not sure if she’s a 6 1/2-furlong filly or a mile. Now is a good time to see if she can get a mile.”

◗ Treasuring won the Group 3 Curragh Stakes at five furlongs on turf in Ireland in August and is the only group or graded stakes winner among the 13 fillies entered in the Blue Norther, which will be limited to 11 starters.

One Fast Broad, by Decarchy
Last 3 Beyers: 67-65-71

◗ One Fast Broad won two stakes on dirt for California-bred 2-year-old fillies in the autumn and was fourth in the Surfer Girl in her last start on turf. Owner and trainer Mick Ruis has repeatedly said that One Fast Broad is better on turf. After One Fast Broad won the Soviet Problem Stakes on dirt at Los Alamitos on Dec. 2, Ruis said he considered waiting for the California Cup Oaks on turf in February. He said One Fast Broad’s recent training changed his mind.

“I think I can win this race,” he said. “She’s doing too good right now to stop.”

Ippodamia’s Girl, by Stormy Atlantic
Last 3 Beyers: 76-69-36

◗ The Blue Norther will be the stakes debut for Ippodamia’s Girl, who won a maiden race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 25 in her fourth start. Trainer Mike Puype said on Friday that he is concerned about Ippodamia’s position in post 10 for a filly who tends to show speed.

“She’s talented,” he said. “The biggest problem is the post. It’s a bad post at Santa Anita going a mile.

“Hopefully, she can drop into a good spot. I don’t want to send her across the field.”