DEL MAR, Calif. – The favorites in separate allowance races for California-bred fillies and mares face uncertainty Thursday at Del Mar – Miso Phansy is first time dirt, comebacker Freya is first start back.
The surface switch for Miso Phansy, who’s favored in race 5, is not a worry for trainer Leonard Powell. “She’s worked exceptionally well on the dirt, I think she’s going to adapt very well,” he said.
Miso Phansy meets five rivals, including Issa Court, in the one-mile race.
The nine-month layoff for Freya, favored in race 6, is not an issue according to trainer Dan Blacker. “She got the bullet work out of the gate the other day, she’s ready to fire,” he said.
Freya meets seven rivals, including Mirinda in the five-furlong turf sprint. Four others are also-eligibles.
Miso Phansy is stakes-placed on turf and Powell has been shopping for a dirt race. She was scratched from the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks and Solana Beach Stakes last weekend on turf, the only surface on which she has raced. Seven turf starts by Miso Phansy have produced two wins and four seconds.
Sometimes it is a guess if a turf horse will handle dirt, other times it is based on science. That is the case with Miso Phansy. “I use a GPS stride-analysis tracker in the morning, and her stride [in dirt works] is equivalent to what she has done on the Tapeta at Santa Anita,” Powell said.
The runner-up two starts back in the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita and a close seventh last out in the Grade 2 San Clemente at Del Mar, Miso Phansy drew post 6 Thursday under Hector Berrios. Miso Phansy, listed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite, rallies from behind. Her main rival is speed.
Issa Court is a five-time winner who could get a soft trip. Fourth as the favorite last out after dueling on strong fractions, Issa Court meets less speed Thursday first start off a $20,000 claim by trainer Kent Sweezey. Abel Lezcano rides Issa Court, who is entered for the optional claiming tag of $20,000.
Others in the field include stretch-out Lady Mendelssohn, comebacker Jessebear, Broadway Venus, and I Had That One Too. Miso Phansy can win if she reels in likely pacesetter Issa Court.
In race 6, Freya sprints five furlongs on turf, her first start since she defeated Miso Phansy in a Del Mar maiden turf sprint in November. Freya, 1 for 2, returns with a sharp work pattern for Blacker, including a 59.60 second gate work Aug. 4 that was the fastest five-furlong work of the day.
“That work showed she’s pretty sharp,” Blacker said. “I think she could be one that could fire off the bench.”
Armando Ayuso rides Freya, the 5-2 program favorite who gets Lasix for the first time.
Although the turf-sprint speed bias has tempered, front-runner Mirinda figures with a clean break. She broke poorly last time, clipped heels, and was eliminated. Gary Mandella trains Mirinda.
“If there are no scratches and she breaks good, she’s got a good chance,” Mandella said.
The also-eligible list includes sharp turf-sprint maiden winners Magical Miss, Fancy Facts, and Only Reputation.
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