Grade 1 Winner Mirth Returns in Frankel Stakes

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Grade 1 Winner Mirth Returns in Frankel Stakes
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Mirth wins the Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita Park

After leading the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) into the stretch before fading, Little Red Feather Racing's Mirth is scheduled to return to racing Dec. 28 in the $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.

While Mirth provided a thrill for trainer Phil D'Amato and her connections before finishing sixth in the Nov. 2 Filly and Mare Turf, she delivered in her previous start—scoring a gate-to-wire victory in the Sept. 28 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) on the Santa Anita turf. That effort marked the graded stakes debut for the 4-year-old daughter of Colonel John, who followed a 2017 maiden-claiming win at Delaware Park with a pair of starter-optional claiming race wins at Laurel Park for trainer Bernard Houghton.

Transferred to D'Amato's barn after the Laurel wins following a private purchase by Little Red Feather Racing, Mirth continued to improve with two wins and four other placings in 10 starts.

She was entered earlier this month in the Dec. 8 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Los Alamitos, but was scratched when the track became wet. 

Mike Smith, aboard for the Rodeo Drive and the Filly and Mare Turf, is scheduled to ride in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile test.

D'Amato also will send out Tiny Tina, a 4-year-old daughter of Paddy O'Prado, who won three straight starts earlier this year but has failed to earn a placing in her past three efforts—all in stakes. 

The expected field of eight fillies and mares also includes last year's Frankel runner-up, Excellent Sunset. The Irish-bred daughter of Exceed And Excel continues to look for her first stakes win. Trained by Richard Baltas, Excellent Sunset was disqualified to second after reaching the wire first in the 2018 Kathryn Crosby Stakes on the Del Mar turf. She then finished third—just a head behind winner Wicked Old Fashion—in this year's edition of the Crosby Nov. 8.

She races with blinkers off after a one-race experiment with the equipment.


Entries: Robert J. Frankel S. (G3T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, December 28, 2019, Race 8

  • Grade IIIT
  • 1 1/8m
  • Turf
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 2:51 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Tiny Tina (KY) Flavien Prat 121 Philip D'Amato 6/1
2 2Excellent Sunset (IRE) Joel Rosario 121 Richard Baltas 7/2
3 3Don't Blame Judy (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Victor Espinoza 121 J. Eric Kruljac 5/1
4 4Streak of Luck (CA) Jose Valdivia, Jr. 121 Matthew Chew 5/1
5 5Curlin's Journey (KY) Ruben Fuentes 121 Dallas E. Keen 6/1
6 6Harmless (KY) Abel Cedillo 119 Robert B. Hess, Jr. 6/1
7 7Mirth (PA) Mike E. Smith 125 Philip D'Amato 5/2
8 8Ms Peintour (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Brice Blanc 121 Brian J. Koriner 20/1