Spirit of Xian improving ahead of Honeymoon
ARCADIA, Calif. – After a tumultuous start to the 2015 season, Spirit of Xian may be settling down.
Spirit of Xian won the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes as a 16-1 outsider April 4, the highlight of a season that started with a troubled third in her American debut in the Sweet Life Stakes in February. The recent win makes her a leading contender for the $200,000 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Sunday, provided she can be well behaved.
Spirit of Xian missed a start March 7 in the China Doll Stakes after becoming upset in the starting gate. She showed no signs of that incident in the Providencia, leading throughout to win the race at 1 1/8 miles on turf by a neck.
Since then, trainer Richard Mandella has conveyed to jockey Joe Talamo that Spirit of Xian has progressed in her training in advance of the Honeymoon, the richest race and the eighth stakes of her 10-race career.
Mandella told Talamo that Spirit of Xian’s “last two works have been better than the works before” the Providencia.
Spirit of Xian will need to be that good to win a competitive running of the Grade 2 Honeymoon, run at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
The field includes the first five finishers of the Providencia, including Spanish Queen, Entrechat, Prize Exhibit, and Havanna Belle, as well as Singing Kitty, who won the China Doll Stakes, and Sharla Rae, a three-time stakes winner.
Key contenders
Spirit of Xian (Last 2 Beyers: 92-79)
* Spirit of Xian was beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the Sweet Life Stakes after racing in traffic in early stretch. She adapted well to the longer distance of the Providencia, leaving Talamo impressed.
“You don’t see too many go from 6 1/2 furlongs to a mile and an eighth,” Talamo said. “I think she can be better. I think she can do anything. Going 6 1/2 with more pace, she was farther back. She broke so smoothly last time. She got to the front and relaxed. She had a nice turn of foot when she switched leads.”
Entrechat (Last 3 Beyers: 90-83-74)
* Entrechat has been on a similar trajectory as Spirit of Xian, having won a maiden race on the hillside in February in her second start before finishing third in the Providencia as the 8-5 favorite. Entrechat broke slowly in that race but closed well to catch the eye at the finish.
“It was a big jump going from 6 1/2 furlongs,” trainer Neil Drysdale said. “I thought she handled it well. It wouldn’t have been the ideal scenario. She was a little eager because she was coming out of two sprints.”
* Similar to many runners in the Honeymoon, Entrechat could reappear in the $400,000 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf May 30.
Spanish Queen (Last 2 Beyers: 91-77)
* Spanish Queen was brilliant in her debut, winning a maiden race for California-bred fillies at a mile on turf by 5 3/4 lengths. In the Providencia, she closed from fourth with a three-wide move and just missed catching Spirit of Xian. She ranks as a top contender Sunday.