Wild at Heart works rapidly for Santa Anita Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – Wild at Heart’s workout at Santa Anita on Friday went a little better than expected.

Officially, the 3-year-old Wild at Heart worked five furlongs in 58 seconds. Trainer Richard Mandella timed her in 1:11 for six furlongs.

“I might have gotten it wrong,” Mandella said.

It does not appear so.

Wild at Heart’s workout was her last major exercise before her stakes debut in the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on April 4. Owned by Ramona Bass, Wild at Heart has not been worse than second in three starts. She beat maidens in her second start, at seven furlongs on Feb. 8, and was second by a nose to Santa Anita Oaks hopeful Luminance in an optional claimer at a mile Feb. 28.

Friday’s workout was the fastest of 48 recorded works at the distance. The time caught Mandella by surprise.

“She looked pretty good,” Mandella said.

Wild at Heart, who is by Indian Charlie, is part of a projected field of seven in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. The other candidates are Curlin’s Fox, Glory, Light the City, Luminance, Singing Kitty, and Stellar Wind.

Stellar Wind was the easy winner of the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 28 in her stakes debut and first start for trainer John Sadler. She is the likely favorite for the Santa Anita Oaks.

Singing Kitty is not a definite starter. Trainer Matt Chew said on Friday that Singing Kitty could start in the $150,000 Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf on the same day. He said a decision may not be made on a race goal until Wednesday, the day entries are taken for the April 4 program.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

The $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4 will have a small field led by the undefeated Dortmund, who is trained by Bob Baffert. Dortmund has won two stakes at this meeting – the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes by a head against Firing Line on Feb. 7 and the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes against Prospect Park on March 7.

Firing Line returned to win the Sunland Park Derby on March 22 in his final prep before the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Prospect Park is the leading threat to Dortmund in the Santa Anita Derby, which is run at 1 1/8 miles.

Other candidates for the Santa Anita Derby are Bad Read Sanchez, Bolo, Cross the Line, and One Lucky Dane.