Tamara Set for Long-Awaited Return in Chillingworth

The road back to racing has been a long one for Tamara . Now the Spendthrift Farm homebred will try to make it a return worth waiting for.

The 4-year-old filly enters the Oct. 4 Chillingworth Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park as the 1-1 morning-line favorite. When healthy, there's no doubting the daughter of Bolt d'Oro  's talent on the track. The problem has been her health. She's only raced twice in the last two years.

After winning the 2023 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) by 6 3/4 lengths, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella had her entering the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) as the favorite. She led for most of the race, but faded late thanks to a fractured splint bone in her left hind.

She returned almost a year later in an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar. Mandella had her primed for the 2024 La Brea Stakes (G1), but she was scratched because of a fever. Adding to her woes, Tamara required surgery after kicking a rail during training at Santa Anita Park in January. 

She won't have an easy time going up against a pair of Bob Baffert trainees. Silent Law  hit the board in her first five starts, all on dirt, but will need to be better than she was in the San Clemente Handicap (G2T) last time out when eighth on turf. Baffert's other runner, Baela , is a City of Light   filly making her third start and first in graded company. 

Completing the field are Chismosa , who is a grade 2-placed grade 3 winner, and Ang N Ash , who was fourth in the Monrovia Stakes (G3T) earlier this year.