ARCADIA, Calif. – Avenge, a turf sprinter, was halfway through 2016 when trainer Richard Mandella stretched her out and the filly went on a tear.
Avenge won three turf routes, including the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive, a 1 1/4-mile race at Santa Anita, and finished third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Avenge, who won the Rodeo Drive again in 2017, retired having won seven races and $868,341 from 17 starts.
As a broodmare, Avenge produced mixed results. Three of her five runners are still maidens, but two of her best – allowance-caliber Defiance and Venganza, full sisters sired by Curlin – will stretch to 1 3/8 miles on turf this week at Del Mar. Venganza runs Friday in the $100,000 CTT and TOC Stakes; Defiance runs Thursday in a first-level allowance.
Like mother, like daughters?
Mandella believes the three-turn distance will benefit 5-year-old Venganza and 4-year-old Defiance. Venganza is a longshot in the CTT and TOC, but Defiance is an obvious contender Thursday in the featured seventh race, an entry-level turf allowance for fillies and mares.
Defiance won her debut in a turf sprint, then produced a series of even-paced turf routes without a win. She turned the corner in her most recent start, a closing third at one mile under jockey Mirco Demuro. Defiance missed by two lengths in the best race of her career. Mandella was pleased.
“Mirco got her to drop her head and come flying,” Mandella aid. “If you watch that race, you’ll see what I’m doing [1 3/8 miles Thursday]. She’s bred for it.”
The additional three furlongs should benefit Defiance, who, in her last start ran faster each successive quarter-mile – 24.99 seconds, 24.27, 24.22, and 23.14. If she is like her dam, Avenge, Defiance should relish the longer distance Thursday.
Rivals for Defiance include stretch-out Roselee May, Eternal Reign, and Thebestisyettobe. Others in the allowance are Ruby Cantu, Ima Joker, No Other Like You, and Atia.
Roselee May and Defiance both were nominated to the CTT and TOC as a backup if the Thursday allowance did not fill. Roselee May misfired last out racing one mile, finishing eighth as the favorite.
“I think she’s better going a mile and an eighth and farther,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.
He also entered 3-year-old Atia.
“She acts like she’ll run all day,” McCarthy said.
Roselee May will get Umberto Rispoli aboard, while Kazushi Kimura rides Atia. The pace of the allowance is likely to be set by No Other Like You or Roselee May.
Listed at 6-1 odds in the program, Defiance offers wagering value Thursday, as will Venganza, a longshot Friday in the CTT and TOC. A third sibling to Defiance and Venganza is highly regarded 2-year-old Medici, an Into Mischief colt who finished last on dirt in his debut Aug. 3.
“I was shocked,” Mandella said. “I couldn’t wait to run him. I’m hoping maybe he’s turf. I’ll bring him back on the turf before we go” back to Santa Anita.
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