Santa Anita notes: Spellbound 'ready for her best' in Santa Margarita

ARCADIA, Calif. – After Spellbound won the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies on Jan. 19, trainer Richard Mandella was adamant that her next start would be next Saturday’s $350,000 Santa Margarita Invitational at Santa Anita.

Mandella could have chosen a start in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes against older fillies and mares, but he wanted Spellbound to have a longer break between starts.

Friday, he stood by that decision and predicted Spellbound will be competitive in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita, which is run over 1 1/8 miles.

“She’s an improving filly from her last race,” Mandella said. “She’s trained better since her last race, and she’s had some time. I think she’s ready for her best.”

Owned by Ramona Bass, Claiborne Farm, and Adele Dilschneider, Spellbound has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $208,750. The La Canada was her first stakes win and second start following a seven-month break. Last April, she finished fourth behind stablemate Beholder in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks.

The Santa Margarita is the championship race for fillies and mares at the winter-spring meeting. The candidates include Iotapa, Let Faith Arise, Stanwyck, and Fiftyshadesofhay, the first four finishers of the Santa Maria on Feb. 15; and Scherzinger, winner of the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes over seven furlongs Jan. 25.

Close Hatches, second to Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff here last fall, is nominated. Trained by Bill Mott, Close Hatches has not started since the BC Distaff.

Susans Express likely retired

Susans Express, upset winner of the California Cup Oaks here Jan. 25, has likely made her last start, co-owner and breeder Ed Delaney said Friday.

Susans Express was diagnosed with a leg injury after finishing sixth in the Sweet Life Stakes on the hillside turf course Feb. 15.

“She probably won’t race again,” Delaney said.

Delaney said no breeding plans have been finalized, pending discussions with partners Elliston Black, Paul Sabinsky, and trainer Jorge Periban.

Susans Express, by Decarchy, won 2 of 7 starts and earned $143,390. In the Cal Cup Oaks, she closed from fourth in a field of 14 to win by 1 1/4 lengths as a 65-1 outsider.

Rhagori wins U.S. debut

Rhagori, a four-time winner in England, won her U.S. debut in an optional claimer Friday that could lead to a start in the $75,000 American Beauty Stakes for fillies and mares over a mile on turf March 29.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Rhagori ($4.80) closed from fourth in a field of five to win the one-mile race by a neck over Miss Well Molded.

“Her class got her through,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “She came running at the end.

“I think she’ll really improve. As the work tab had suggested, she had done the minimum.”

Owned by Michael House, Rhagori had four published works from Jan. 26 to Feb. 22.

Big Tire wants more distance

Big Tire, a 3-year-old colt by Candy Ride, scored a hard-fought win in a one-mile maiden race Friday in his sixth start, a result that left trainer Mark Glatt anxious for longer races.

“He wants to run a mile and an eighth or farther,” Glatt said.

Owned by breeder Ted Aroney’s Halo Farms, Big Tire ($14) won Friday’s race by a nose over even-money favorite Rprettyboyfloyd. Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Big Tire was second on the backstretch but third in early stretch at a time when Rprettboyfloyd was rallying wide.

“He showed a lot of determination,” Glatt said.

“Edwin said that when horse came up to him on the outside, he dug back in. We’ll try to take the easier step and try to win an allowance race in his next start.”

◗ Setsuko, second in the 2012 Santa Anita Handicap, has been briefly taken out of training, Mandella said. Last month, Mandella considered the 7-year-old Setsuko for this year’s Santa Anita Handicap, which was run Saturday, but opted to pass the race.

“He strained himself, so we’ll take it easy with him for a little while,” Mandella said. “We’re trying to get him back on track and I haven’t been able to do that yet.”