Simply Breathless targeting Del Mar stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Simply Breathless extended her winning streak to three races in two countries with a smart-looking victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

The winning streak is the foundation of expected starts in longer and more prestigious races at the Del Mar summer meeting in August. Owned by Matt Cloros and trained by Neil Drysdale, Simply Breathless will be considered for two Grade 2 turf stakes worth $200,000 – the Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 3 and the John Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 31.

In the $100,755 Wilshire Stakes, Simply Breathless closed from seventh in a field of 10 to win by 1 1/4 lengths, pulling away late under jockey Flavien Prat.

“He got off her and said she is very tractable,” Drysdale said on Sunday.

A 4-year-old British-bred filly by Bated Breath, Simply Breathless has won 6 of 15 starts. She won three minor handicaps at a mile in England last year.

The winning streak began with a handicap win at Ascot last September in her final start in England. Simply Breathless won her American debut in the minor Golden Poppy Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Golden Gate Fields on April 27.

“I think she ran better today than she did at Golden Gate,” Drysdale said in the winner’s circle on Saturday. “She’s getting the hang of it.”