Spendarella could run in QE II Challenge Cup as season finale

DEL MAR, Calif. - Spendarella ran the best race of her career to win the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on turf by 4 1/2 lengths on Saturday in what could be her second-to-last race of the year.

Trainer Graham Motion said Sunday that Spendarella may start in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, a $600,000 race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 15.

“If we did that, that would be it for the year,” Motion said.

The 2022 season has taken Spendarella coast to coast and to England.

Spendarella won her first three starts - a maiden race at Gulfstream Park in February, the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes there on March 5, and the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland in April.

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Owned by Gainesway Stable, Spendarella was second by 4 3/4 lengths to Inspiral in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old fillies at Royal Ascot in England on June 17 in advance of the trip to Del Mar.

The extensive travel did not take a toll on Spendarella.

“I did think she was training good since she got back from England,” Motion said. “She’s gained weight and filled out.”

In the $304,000 Del Mar Oaks, Spendarella closed from third to win by a convincing 4 1/2 lengths under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Spendarella ($4.40) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.09 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 91.

Motion sent two horses to California for weekend stakes and had a perfect record. On Friday, Sister Otoole won the first stakes of her career in the $101,500 CTT and TOC Stakes at 1 3/8 miles for older fillies and mares.

Similar to Spendarella, Sister Otoole will return to Motion’s base in Maryland this week.

Neige Blanche, the winner of six stakes in the last 16 months, could finish only fifth as the 4-5 favorite in the CTT and TOC Stakes.

Neige Blanche was in traffic in early stretch, but offered no threat in the final furlong. Trainer Leonard Powell said Neige Blanche was not in peak condition to race on Friday.

“She showed signs of being in heat,” Powell said. “She didn’t get a smooth trip, but she should have been able to overcome that considering her past performances. It was disappointing.”

Powell said Neige Blanche will be considered for the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 8. A 5-year-old, Neige Blanche was fourth in the 2021 Rodeo Drive.

Motion may not be finished at Del Mar this summer. He said on Sunday that Piqua, third in an allowance race at Saratoga on Aug. 13, and Speaking Scout, fourth in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park on July 2, will be nominated for the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 3.