Going Global Could Top Banner Meet for D'Amato

Trainer Phil D'Amato is enjoying a banner year at Santa Anita Park, landing the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) with Count Again  and the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) with Desert Dawn , in addition to a handful of other graded stakes contests with Leggs Galore , Miss Bigly , and with May 30 $400,000 Gamely Stakes (G1T) favorite Going Global .

"I've got a good bunch of runners and they're all firing," D'Amato said. "It's fun when that happens, and hopefully, we'll keep it going. No doubt a big part of it is due to my staff. My assistants and exercise riders are all doing a tremendous job. You're only as good as your help."

As of May 28, D'Amato sports a 20-win lead over his closest competitor, Bob Baffert, in the meet trainer standings at Santa Anita. Baffert is currently serving a regulatory suspension that began April 4 and will conclude July 2.

Going Global, who began her career in her native Ireland, has certainly been a shrewd acquisition for the partnership of CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano. Since arriving in the United States in the winter of 2021, the daughter of Mehmas  has captured seven of nine starts on North American soil, including a top-level conquest in last summer's Del Mar Oaks (G1T).

The filly with a penchant for winning—even when she appears utterly defeated halfway down the stretch—enters the Gamely fresh off an April 9 score in the Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) in her 4-year-old debut. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli in the Royal Heroine, who replaced regular rider Flavien Prat that day as Prat guided Zandon  to victory in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) halfway across the country, Going Global demonstrated a powerful turn of foot that carried her 1 3/4-lengths clear of her rivals as she shaded 1:34 for the mile.

Prat will be back aboard Going Global in Monday's 1 1/8-mile test for older fillies and mares on the grass.

"(Going Global has) won at a mile and an eighth three times," D'Amato said. "The Gamely should be well within her scope after her second race off a layoff. She should be ultra-sharp and ready to go."

D'Amato will also saddle Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing, and MyRacehorse's Going to Vegas . Previously trained by Richard Baltas, who is currently under investigation by the California Horse Racing Board and cannot enter horses at Santa Anita or any other tracks owned by 1/ST Racing at this time, the 5-year-old Goldencents   mare earned a ticket to the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) after notching a game victory in the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita. After leading the way through six furlongs, she faltered to finish 11th of 12 in the Breeders' Cup.

After missing by a half-length to Leggs Galore to begin her 2022 campaign in the one-mile Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) March 5, she wheeled back a few weeks later to finish second in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Ana Stakes (G2T) to Queen Goddess .

"Going to Vegas is kind of a versatile filly," D'Amato said. "She can kind of do a little bit of everything. Irad Ortiz (Jr.) is going to ride her."

Like Going to Vegas, the Leonard Powell-trained Neige Blanche  will also cut back in trip for the Gamely. Owned by Madaket Stables, Laura De Seroux, Marsha Naify, and Mathilde Powell, Neige Blanche is a proven entity over a route of ground, touting wins in the 1 1/2-mile Santa Barbara Stakes (G3T) (twice), Astra Stakes (G3T), as well as the 1 3/8-mile Red Carpet Stakes (G3T).

The last time the distance specialist tried nine furlongs was in the 2020 Del Mar Oaks, where she rallied for fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

B-4 Farms' Canoodling , meanwhile, will attempt to stretch her speed in the Gamely. The sprinter-turned miler has never raced 1 1/8-miles in her 16-start career. An established frontrunner, the 4-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile cruised to a gate-to-wire triumph in the May 1 Wilshire Stakes (G3T) over Gamely rivals Eddie's New Dream  and England's Rose .

Kentucky shipper Ocean Road  and recent Santa Anita allowance optional claiming winner Thrumps Dream  complete the field.

Entries: Gamely S. (G1T)

Santa Anita Park, Monday, May 30, 2022, Race 10

• Grade IT
• 1 1/8m
• Turf
• $400,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 6:00 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Going to Vegas (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Philip D'Amato	3/1
2	2Canoodling (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	122	Mike Puype	6/1
3	3Ocean Road (IRE)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	122	Brendan P. Walsh	4/1
4	4Thrumps Dream (IRE)	Joe Bravo	122	George Papaprodromou	20/1
5	5Eddie's New Dream (CA)	Mario Gutierrez	122	Ben D. A. Cecil	12/1
6	6Going Global (IRE)	Flavien Prat	124	Philip D'Amato	8/5
7	7Neige Blanche (FR)	Edwin A. Maldonado	122	Leonard Powell	6/1
8	8England's Rose (KY)	Abel Cedillo	122	John A. Shirreffs	15/1