Mandella Pair, Anisette Among Gamely Contenders

The day after older distaffers face off on the dirt in the Santa Margarita Stakes (G2), their turf counterparts will meet in the May 27 Gamely Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park. While trainer Phil D'Amato often has such events surrounded, it may be a one-two punch from the Richard Mandella barn or the return of 2023 powerhouse Anisette  that gets the job done this time.

For the 1 1/8-mile Gamely, Mandella has entered Linda's Gift  and Ruby Nell , both stakes winners this year already at Santa Anita. Tiago Pereira will ride Linda's Gift from post 7, while Edwin Maldonado will be aboard Ruby Nell from post 2.

Linda's Gift, a 5-year-old daughter of Arrogate, is bringing a three-stakes winning streak that started in last year's Red Carpet Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar and continued through the Jan. 21 Astra Stakes and Feb. 24 Santa Ana Stakes (G3T), both at Santa Anita. Linda's Gift initially competed in the East at Gulfstream Park, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course for trainer George Weaver. Mandella took over last year, and after winning one in four starts for him, Linda's Gift began her current streak.

"She's a little wired," Mandella said after the Santa Ana. He credited Pereira and several key people in his barn with doing "a great job of turning the wire back."

A 4-year-old daughter of Bolt d'Oro  , Ruby Nell is coming off a three-quarter-length triumph in the March 3 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) at a mile. Prior to that she finished third behind Didia  and Surprisingly  in the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream.

Anisette put together a formidable season last year and will be making her 2024 debut in the Gamely. Trained by Leonard Powell, the 4-year-old daughter of Awtaad  in six 2023 starts won four times and ran second twice. Anisette's stakes wins included the American Oaks (G1T), Del Mar Oaks (G1T), and San Clemente Stakes (G2T), all for 3-year-old fillies and each time with Umberto Rispoli in the irons. Rispoli returns in the saddle from post 6.

D'Amato has a good chance to win with Uncorked . After racing in her native Australia and then on the East Coast, Uncorked captured the April 27 Royal Heroine Stakes (G3T) in her first start for D'Amato. With Frankie Dettori aboard, Uncorked scored by two lengths, and Dettori is set to ride from post 3 in the Gamely.

Justique  ran second to Uncorked in the Royal Heroine, and trainer John Shirreffs has entered her in the Gamely, with Antonio Fresu named to ride from post 5. Justique won the 2022 Desi Arnaz Stakes and has placed in six other stakes.

Nadette , trained by Neil Drysdale, most recently captured the April 4 Wilshire Stakes (G3T) after running third behind Ruby Nell in the Buena Vista. Drysdale has put Hector Berrios up from post 4.

The rest of the field consists of Yerwanthere , Olivia Maralda , and Forever After All . The last-named two are shipping in from Kentucky.