Where's the D finally gets to take her shot
ARCADIA, Calif. – Where’s the D had a brief 2-year-old season in 2015, highlighted by a 34-1 upset win in a maiden race at Del Mar. A month later, she finished last of seven in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park, emerging from the race with an illness that left her sidelined.
More than seven months later, Where’s the D is ready for her 3-year-old debut in an optional claimer on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Friday. It will be Where’s the D’s first start on turf and her first start against older fillies and mares. The surface switch is fine with trainer Doug O’Neill, but racing her against older is not ideal.
“We’d like to keep her against 3-year-olds, but we’ll keep her in the first condition,” he said.
Where’s the D is owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam and Eric Johnson, who is a defenseman for the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. Mario Gutierrez has the mount. Last Saturday, the Reddams, O’Neill, and Gutierrez combined to win their second Kentucky Derby with Nyquist.
KEY CONTENDERS
Where’s the D, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 0-73-39
◗ Where’s the D was seventh in her debut at Del Mar last August but rebounded to lead throughout in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs.
◗ O’Neill said Where’s the D was sick last fall, which forced her out of training. Where’s the D resumed steady workouts in early February and then got sick and didn’t work again from early March to early April.
“She got sick on us, and it took a while to get her right,” O’Neill said. “We’ve been eager to try the grass. I think she’ll move way forward. We should see a big effort from her.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Where’s the D. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 12-1-0-1 with a $0.73 ROI over the past five years going route to sprint with horses trying turf for the first time. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Big Move, by Mr. Big
Last 3 Beyers: 87-52-75
◗ Big Move won her only start this year, an allowance race for California-bred fillies and mares on the hillside turf course in March, following a four-month layoff. She raced from a stalking position before taking the lead in the stretch, winning by 1 3/4 lengths as the 7-5 favorite.
◗ Big Move will be well backed in this race, her first start in open company.
◗ Trained by Tim Yakteen for owner and breeder George Krikorian, Big Move will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano, who has been aboard for both of the 4-year-old filly’s wins.
Hundi, by Fastnet Rock
Last 3 Beyers: 83-71-76
◗ Hundi is winless in five starts since arriving in the United States last fall. She won a maiden race in England last year, her only victory in 16 starts.
◗ Hundi, a threat from off the pace, was second in an optional claimer on the hillside turf course April 3.