Richard Mandella has a busy weekend coming up at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., with Jolie Olimpica and Superstition ticketed for next Saturday's Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes for older fillies and mares going six furlongs on turf, and Amuse set for next Sunday's $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.
Jolie Olimpica, a 5-year-old Brazilian-bred mare, will be making her first start since last July 11 when she finished second in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland. Mike Smith retains the mount. She won the Las Cienegas in her U.S. debut on Jan. 11, 2020, having been unbeaten and untested in three previous races in her native country.
Superstition, a 4-year-old daughter of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, makes her stakes debut after two straight victories at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar. Flavien Prat rides.
Amuse, a 6-year-old Medaglia d'Oro mare, last raced on Sept. 25, 2020, finishing third by a length in the G3 Chillingworth Stakes under Drayden Van Dyke, who will be back aboard in the Kalookan Queen.
“She just needed a break,” said the Hall of Fame trainer in explaining her absence of three-plus months.
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