Storm the Hill shortens up, drops in class in Las Cienegas

ARCADIA, Calif. – The established American form of Storm the Hill will be challenged by the undefeated Brazilian import Jolie Olimpica in Saturday’s Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes at Santa Anita.

The $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes, run for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, will be the first start in a turf sprint for Storm the Hill since a win in the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in November 2018.

In 2019, Storm the Hill was winless in five starts, all in graded stakes at a mile and 1 1/16 miles on turf, including a nose loss in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar in August.

Owned by Alastar Thoroughbred Co. and Michael Valdes, and trained by Phil D’Amato, Storm the Hill ended her 2019 season with losses in Grade 1 races – a ninth in the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland in October at 107-1 and a fifth in the Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar on Dec. 1 at 43-1.

“She’s won a couple of graded stakes and we were taking a shot to get a Grade 1 win or placing,” D’Amato said. “I think this is a good spot.”

Storm the Hill, who drew the rail in a field of five, will be ridden for the first time by jockey Flavien Prat. Storm the Hill tends to run from a stalking position and could be helped in that regard if Kentan Road takes her customary position near the front.

The other runners in the field are An Eddie Surprise, the winner of an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf last Saturday, and Free Cover, who was last of nine in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs on Dec. 28.

Jolie Olimpica, a 4-year-old filly by Drosselmeyer, is unbeaten in three starts, including the Group 1 Grand Prix Jockey Club Brasileiro against males at about a mile last June. Jolie Olimpica’s other wins were at about 6 1/2 furlongs in a maiden race last February, and at about 7 1/2 furlongs in a Group 3 race last April.

Jolie Olimpica joined trainer Richard Mandella’s stable in the second half of 2019, and had her first workouts in late November.

“She trains as good as you’d want her to train,” Mandella said. “This might be a little short for her, but it’s a good way to get started.”

Mike Smith will ride Jolie Olimpica, who Mandella said is most likely to race from a stalking position.

“She trains like she’s pretty quick,” Mandella said. “She’s pretty fresh. She may have her own ideas. I imagine we’d take her back a bit.”