Siberian Iris should be able to handle distance in Astra Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Siberian Iris has never started at 1 1/2 miles on turf, which leaves the 6-year-old mare on equal footing with most of her rivals in Sunday’s Grade 3 Astra Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

Of the seven entrants, only the longshot Trust Fund Kitty has started at the distance, having finished fifth in the $100,000 Astra Stakes in 2019. There are indications that Siberian Iris and Tiny Tina, among the leading contenders in the Astra, should be able to handle the lengthy journey.

Siberian Iris won the $89,202 CTT and TOC Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in August, and followed with a fourth at 24-1 in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes here on Sept. 28 in her most recent start.

The brief layoff is not a concern for trainer Richard Mandella, who trains Siberian Iris for Calumet Farm.

“I think she’s a natural and she’ll run really good,” Mandella said on Friday. “She’ll probably even run good fresh. The mile and a half is not the usual deal, but I think she will like it.”

Mandella said Siberian Iris needed the break in the autumn because of “bumps and bruises.” Rafael Bejarano has ridden Siberian Iris in her last three starts and has the mount on Sunday.

Tiny Tina, who may go favored, is a former claimer who has yet to win a stakes, but was beaten only a nose by stablemate Mirth in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf here on Dec. 28. Tiny Tina was fifth in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 30, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind winner Zuzanna.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said Tiny Tina should benefit from the experience in the Red Carpet, which is the longest race of the 5-year-old mare’s career.

“It was her first time at that added distance,” he said. “Maybe the last sixteenth, or less than that, hit her a little bit. Since then, she keeps moving forward.”

In the Frankel Stakes, Tiny Tina closed from last in a field of eight after a troubled start. D’Amato said Tiny Tina was a late addition to that race.

“This was the race we had on our radar,” he said. “As good as she was doing, we put her in the Frankel.”

Tiny Tina is winless in four starts since she won an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf here last May. Flavien Prat rode her that day and is aboard her Sunday for the first time since that race.

Tiny Tina will be closing, and will be helped if Lostintranzlation and Ms Peintour contribute to a fast pace. Lostintranzlation was last of seven in the Red Carpet Handicap, and Ms Peintour was seventh in the Frankel.

“We should get some true pace,” D’Amato said. “Hopefully, she will run her race.”