Turnerloose Heads D'Amato Quartet in Wilshire Stakes

Turnerloose , a 5-year-old Nyquist   mare and winner of the highest level graded stakes in the field, leads the charge of four Phil D'Amato trainees in the Wilshire Stakes (G3T) April 4 at Santa Anita Park. 

Owned by Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing, and Ike and Dawn Thrash, Turnerloose won the 2022 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2). She hasn't won since but has hit the board in four of her 11 subsequent starts.

Thursday's start marks her first since a distant third in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) nearly four months ago.

The Wilshire is a slightly shorter distance than the Bayakoa. Perhaps the $100,000 race's one-mile distance along with the time off serves her well. 

"We gave her some extra time. Hopefully, it will pay off," D'Amato said. "She's training well and should be fit and ready to go."

D'Amato's other entrants are School Dance , who has come up short in graded company; Leisurewear , who finished fourth in the Santa Ana Stakes (G3T); and Adaay In Asia . All three are in search of their first graded victory. 

A filly who is knocking on the door is Nadette (FR). 

The Outstrip  mare has fallen just short in each of her last three starts, all graded stakes at Santa Anita. After finishing fourth, 1 1/2 lengths back in the Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T), she followed up 1 1/4 lengths back in another fourth effort in the Megahertz Stakes (G3T), and then a third by 2 1/4 lengths in the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T). She's made seven winless starts at a mile in the United States.