Well-traveled Greta G starts for Mandella on Thursday

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 5-year-old mare Greta G arrived at trainer Richard Mandella’s stable last September from a highly regarded source.

Mandella was at the Keeneland September yearling sale when English trainer John Gosden pulled him aside to ask if he would take Greta G. Mandella quickly agreed.

“When I got home, she was already here,” Mandella recalled last weekend.

Greta G will start for the first time in the United States and for Mandella on Thursday in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

An Argentine-bred by Exchange Rate, Greta G has been well traveled in an accomplished career, but has poor recent form. She won the Group 1 Gran Premio Mil Guineas in Argentina in July 2016 in her final start in that country.

While trained by Gosden, Greta G lost all three starts of her starts in England, all group stakes. She was ninth in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot in her British debut last June, sixth in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last July, and 10th in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown Park last September.

“She didn’t take much to England,” Mandella said.

Thursday’s optional claimer has a competitive field and includes the stakes winner Miss Southern Miss, the stakes-placed runner Spin Me a Kiss, and the last-race winners Angel Allie and Lake Time.

Greta G has worked quickly for her American debut, including three furlongs in 35 seconds Sunday. Mandella said Greta G needs to perform well, or she could be retired to be bred.

“She’s a pretty filly,” he said. “We’ve got to make it or change occupations. It should be interesting.”