Santa Anita: McAnally has sharp French filly

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rosehill Dew makes her American debut in a $56,000 allowance race at Santa Anita on Friday with ample promise from her recent training and the company she kept last year.

A 3-year-old French import, Rosehill Dew impressed trainer Ron McAnally last fall when she finished a game second in an allowance race in France to Golden Lilac, trained by prominent trainer Andre Fabre. Shortly after that race, Rosehill Dew was acquired by McAnally’s wife, Debbie.

“The filly she was second to – I talked to Andre Fabre, and he said she was one of his best 2-year-olds,” McAnally said.

In recent weeks, Rosehill Dew has worked well at Santa Anita, in advance of Friday’s race over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. “One morning she worked better than Eclair de Lune,” McAnally said, mentioning his winner of the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes last year.

“We’re going to see what she can do,” McAnally said of Rosehill Dew. “We’re as anxious as anyone. She’s been ready to run for a month.”

Rosehill Dew is part of a field of six in Friday’s seventh race, and is one of three fillies in the field who began their careers in Europe.

The likely favorite, however, is Rumor, who began her career at Santa Anita. Trained by Richard Mandella, Rumor won a six-furlong maiden race by 6 3/4 lengths on Dec. 31, and was a game second in a one-mile allowance race at 2-5 on Feb. 13, her most recent start.

Rumor missed an allowance race on March 27 because of a skin infection, Mandella said. Rumor will be making her turf debut on Friday. “It doesn’t seem like it will matter what she runs on,” he said.

Fifth Ave, who won 2 of 13 starts last year in England, and Up In Time, who was fifth in the China Doll Stakes here on March 13, are the other fillies with foreign experience. Up In Time was beaten six lengths by Cambina in the China Doll. Cambina returned to win the Providencia Stakes last weekend.

Trainer Simon Callaghan said a sprint will help Up In Time.

“I think coming back in distance will help,” Callaghan said.

Forty Paces, the winner of a starter allowance for turf sprinters on March 13, and Teroda, who was a fast-closing third in an optional claimer on March 4, also start.