Tirupati may join Thomas's group for Gamely

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tirupati, the former claimer who won her first stakes in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last Saturday, is under consideration for the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on May 26.

Trainer Jonathan Thomas said on Sunday that he has as many as three candidates for the $300,000 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf, including the graded stakes winners Mrs. Astor and Rashmi. All three are owned by George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable.

Rashmi may start in the Grade 3 Royal Heroine Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on April 26, a race Tirupati may miss.

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“I’m trying to separate the two,” Thomas said. “I don’t want to over-race Tirupati.”

The prestige of the Gamely Stakes could lead the stable to have more than one runner.

In the Wilshire, Tirupati led throughout the $101,000 race, winning by a length as the even-money favorite under jockey Umberto Rispoli.

“We were pleased with the effort,” Thomas said. “I loved the assertive ride. That’s how we drew it up on paper. Things rarely work out as you hope, but that was the case this time.”

Tirupati, a 4-year-old filly by Mitole, has won 4 of 13 starts and earned $217,676. She was claimed from Augustin Stable and Thomas for $25,000 from a non-winners of two at Woodbine last October and claimed by them at the next opportunity in a $50,000 claimer at Woodbine slightly more than three weeks later.

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