Trainer Richard Mandella's top 3-year-old filly Ice Dancing will miss “at least a couple of months” after chipping an ankle Feb, 12 during her most recent workout.
Ice Dancing, who was an emphatic 3 ¼-length winner of the Santa Ynez (G3) going seven furlongs on Jan. 8, was prepping for a potential start in Saturday's Santa Ysabel (G3) at 1 1/16 miles when she suffered the setback.
“We found it the day after her last work,” Mandella said of the chip. “It's nothing major, we'll take it out (surgically). But the timing is bad.”
Ice Dancing completed the six-furlong work in 1:14. In the Santa Ynez, Ice Dancing was last after the opening half mile before uncorking a winning rally under Flavien Prat to earn 10 qualifying points toward this year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5 at Churchill Downs. Last year while still a maiden, the Frosted homebred for Perry and Ramona Bass was fourth in the Chandelier (G2) in her only try around two turns and third in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs.
While Ice Dancing is sidelined, Mandella will still be represented in the Santa Ysabel by flashy debut winner Coffee in Bed. The Hall of Fame trainer confirmed her scheduled participation on Saturday.
By Curlin out of the stakes-placed Hennessy mare Sumptuous, Coffee in Bed served notice on Jan. 6 when coming from off the pace to score at 19-1 against maiden fillies going six furlongs on dirt. She went the final furlong in a respectable :12.82 to win with a final time of 1:10.68.
Coffee in Bed has worked five times since her debut, which includes a six-furlong move in 1:12.60 on Saturday.
The Santa Ysabel is the final major steppingstone to the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) on April 1. It is an also an official prep for the Kentucky Oaks with 50 qualifying points going to the winner.
The Santa Ysabel will be drawn on Wednesday along with the remainder of Saturday's card.
The post Mandella To Send Out Flashy Maiden Winner Coffee In Bed In Santa Ysabel After Ice Dancing Sidelined appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
