Stellar Wind breezes five furlongs in 1:01.80

ARCADIA, Calif. – Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 at Santa Anita on Friday, moving closer to a scheduled return to racing this spring.

As of Friday, trainer John Sadler had not finalized a race for Stellar Wind’s first start since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff here last November. Sadler described the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita on March 18 as “doubtful” for Stellar Wind. He said recent wet weather in Southern California has caused some disruption in Stellar Wind’s preparation.

“We had those 18 storms in January,” he said.

Sadler worked Stellar Wind at dawn on Friday. He described the racetrack as “a little slow.”

Stellar Wind is scheduled to have another workout next Thursday.

Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Stellar Wind has had four workouts since returning to training. A 5-year-old, Stellar Wind has won 7 of 12 starts and earned $1,453,200. Last year, she won 2 of 4 starts in a season highlighted by wins in two Grade 1 races – the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar in July and the Zenyatta Stakes here in September. In both races, she beat Beholder, who clinched the Eclipse Award as the champion older female of 2016 with a win in the BC Distaff.