Tamara possible for Matriarch Stakes, Mandella says

DEL MAR, Calif. - Tamara, scratched from Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint by veterinarians, will be considered for the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 30 pending an examination, trainer Richard Mandella said on Sunday.

Tamara was the 7-2 second choice on the morning line for the Filly and Mare Sprint. Tamara, a winner of 3 of 5 starts, has never raced on turf.

“I’ve got to work on the turf and think about that,” Mandella said of the $300,000 Matriarch.

“First I have to make sure everything is okay. We’ll do a complete workup on her and make sure there is nothing there.”

Tamara was withdrawn from the BC Filly and Mare Sprint on the morning of the race on veterinary advice.

Mandella said he does not have race plans for the 4-year-old filly Kopion, who finished fifth by 5 3/4 lengths in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Kopion was 10 of 14 after a quarter-mile and was closest to the front at the finish.

A four-time stakes winner, Kopion faced males for the first time in the BC Sprint.

“I’ve not seen her like she was in the paddock,” Mandella said. “I never race her against colts and I think she was intimidated. She was pretty tense.

“Maybe that’s just another excuse.”

The Mandella-trained Big City Lights finished eighth in the BC Sprint in his first start since an easy win in the California Cup Sprint against statebreds at Santa Anita in January.

Big City Lights, who often races near the front, closed from 13th of 14 in the BC Sprint. Mandella has not ruled out a rapid return for Big City Lights in Saturday’s $100,000 The Chosen Vron Stakes for statebreds at seven furlongs at Del Mar. Big City Lights won the corresponding race last November, when it was run as the Cary Grant Stakes.

“I won’t say no yet,” Mandella said. “I’ll watch him for a couple of days.

“He didn’t have the speed he normally does. He looks good out of his race.”

Entries will be taken on Wednesday for The Chosen Vron Stakes.

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