Royal Heroine's mile distance will test Stay and Scam

ARCADIA, Calif. – The main question in the Grade 3 Royal Heroine Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita concerns the likely pacesetter – can Stay and Scam stay the trip?

At a mile on turf, the Royal Heroine may or may not be within reach for Stay and Scam. She ran well finishing second last out in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes, her initial try at two turns. But she also squandered a 2 1/2-length lead in the stretch.

“I guess until you win [at two turns], it’s always going to be a question mark,” trainer Doug O’Neill acknowledged. “She really stepped up against open company and showed she belongs. I’m just confident she’s doing well. I think she fits in there.”

Stay and Scam fits perfectly in the $100,000 Royal Heroine, which is race 9 on Saturday. The card includes the $100,000 Kona Gold, race 4, in which The Chosen Vron could be odds-on. By comparison, the Royal Heroine is wide open. Stay and Scam is one of many with a chance.

Nine fillies and mares were entered in the Royal Heroine. O’Neill starts Stay and Scam and sharp sprinter Miss Lizzy. Trainer Phil D’Amato entered comebacker Uncorked, multiple graded winner Bellabel, and Lakota Spirit. Justique looms an upset candidate off a sharp work for trainer John Shirreffs. The others are Glenall, Irresistible Force, and shipper Fuente Ovejuna.

Stay and Scam, a California-bred Square Eddie filly owned by bred by Paul and Zilla Reddam, won 5 of 10 sprints before stretching to a mile last out. She set the pace in the Wilshire, kicked away in the stretch under Mario Gutierrez, but was run over by last-to-first winner Nadette.

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Considering the dynamics – the race was won by a deep closer and every other forwardly placed runner finished far back – Stay and Scam actually ran super. If she rations her speed Saturday, Stay and Scam could be long gone.

If not, comebacker Uncorked could score an upset while making her first start since November at Aqueduct, and first for D’Amato. The five-month layoff was not by design.

“They sent her to me at the beginning of the year, and she got sick on the flight over,” D’Amato said. “Between having to deal with that, and the rain, that set her back. It’s been a long while [since she ran], but she’s training really, really well right now.”

Frankie Dettori rides Uncorked, an Australian-bred whose class credentials are light. Not so for Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner Bellabel, who D’Amato said has improved since the new synthetic training track opened at Santa Anita.

“She’s been able to train on the synthetic, and I think she’s moved a mile forward,” D’Amato said. “Training on the Tapeta has helped her a lot. I’m very happy with how she’s coming into the race.”

Juan Hernandez rides Bellabel.

Justique tossed in a clunker last out, but the graded stakes-placed filly might be coming around.

“Her last work was the best work she’s ever done,” Shirreffs said.

Mike Smith rides Justique.

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