Jolie Olimpica Returns to a Turf Sprint in Monrovia

Following the first loss of her five-race career, Jolie Olimpica returns to tried-and-true conditions in the $200,000 Monrovia Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.

At 5 1/2 furlongs on grass, the May 25 race is at the same distance and surface as the Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T), which she won Jan. 11 at Santa Anita. Before that, she was perfect in three starts in her native Brazil, winning from 6 1/2 furlongs to a mile on grass, including the Grande Premio Jockey Club Brasileiro (G1).

Last time out in the one-mile Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) Feb. 22, jockey Mike Smith said Jolie Olimpica did not relax on the stretch out, busting to the lead with fractions of :23.23, :46.49, and 1:10.24 before being caught late and finishing second to Keeper Ofthe Stars, who beat her by a half-length with a mile in 1:34.15.

"She was pulling, and when she does that, she's not breathing the way she needs to," Smith said after the Buena Vista.

Although trainer Richard Mandella still believes the 4-year-old daughter of Drosselmeyer will eventually handle a route, he was content to cut her back in distance Monday because she's had three months off. The Fox Hill Farms-owned filly tracked the pace in winning the Las Cienegas following a seven-month layoff.

"With all the rest she's had, for the Monrovia I went back to how I trained her when she first came here," he said.

Four of her seven rivals are similar speed horses, and she is outside all those pace threats. So even if she eases back and avoids a duel, a trip leaving her wide could unfold for the 8-5 morning-line favorite.

An early scramble would benefit Oleksandra, a two-time stakes winner in 2019. Last year, the Neil Drysdale-trained mare won the Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland. Both races were at 5 1/2 furlongs on grass.

Uncommon for a successful turf sprinter, she is a deep closer with a devastating turn of foot that often enables her to catch foes in the stretch. She won five of eight races last year, capped by the Oct. 11 Franklin County.

The Team Valor International homebred is by Animal Kingdom, who won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) at Churchill Downs in 2011 for Team Valor and trainer Graham Motion.

Joel Rosario, who rode her to four victories last year, will return in the irons aboard the 3-1 second choice, who is making her season debut.

Stealthediamonds, Ginger Nut, Surrender Now, and Just Grazed Me are other stakes winners in the field.

The two remaining entrants, Into Mystic and Miss Hot Legs, are stakes-placed, the latter a half sister to one of the nation's leading 3-year-old fillies, Swiss Skydiver.

Entries: Monrovia S. (G2T)

Santa Anita Park, Monday, May 25, 2020, Race 5

• Grade IIT
• 5 1/2f
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 2:34 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Stealthediamonds (CA)	Agapito Delgadillo	122	Mike Puype	5/1
2	2Oleksandra (AUS)	Joel Rosario	124	Neil D. Drysdale	3/1
3	3Ginger Nut (IRE)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	122	John W. Sadler	15/1
4	4Surrender Now (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Peter Miller	10/1
5	5Miss Hot Legs (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Simon Callaghan	10/1
6	6Into Mystic (KY)	Abel Cedillo	122	Jeff Mullins	10/1
7	7Jolie Olimpica (BRZ)	Mike E. Smith	124	Richard E. Mandella	8/5
8	8Just Grazed Me (CA)	Flavien Prat	124	Philip D'Amato	5/1