Champ Stellar Wind Logs First Breeze of 2016

It may be more than two months away, but Stellar Wind took an important step toward a potential showdown with fellow Eclipse Award winner Beholder with her first timed workout of 2016 April 2 at Santa Anita Park.



The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin   breezed an easy three furlongs in :37 2/5 Saturday morning under exercise rider Ricardo Peniche. Trainer John Sadler timed her last eighth of a mile in :12.



It was the first drill for Hronis Racing's Virginia-bred filly since she came in second, a neck behind Stopchargingmaria, in the Oct. 30 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I). That run against older fillies and mares, along with four 2015 graded scores—including the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I)—clinched her title as champion 3-year-old filly.

HAMMONDS: Stellar Wind Rolls in Santa Anita Oaks



Sadler said after the workout that the June 4 Vanity (gr. I), which should also feature Beholder, is the first target of the year for Stellar Wind.



"It was really easy," Sadler said. "She went nice. The reason I've taken my time is because the Vanity is only a mile this year and we have plenty of time, but that's definitely the target. Everybody has a ways to go, but that's the plan."



Sadler originally planned to drill Stellar Wind March 26, but changed his mind when another horse got loose in the morning that day. The trainer didn't rule out travelling out of town this year with Stellar Wind, but certainly won't be avoiding the other champion female on the grounds at Santa Anita.



"She's really been doing fantastic. She's in great shape," Sadler said. "In a campaign that is going to have four or five starts, we want to race her carefully. There's a lot of opportunities. I'm thinking about what is the best starting point for my horse, and that's at home."



Jogging since February and galloping through March, Stellar Wind started to itch for a workout recently and appeared to appreciate stretching her legs Saturday.



"Was she happy to work?" Sadler asked Peniche as the rider and the filly made their way back to the barn.



"Oh yeah," Peniche said. "She's been waiting for this."

Also on the work tab were several workers making their final moves in preparation for the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). Last-out San Felipe (gr. II) winner Danzing Candy worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 under Mike Smith, Exaggerator covered the same distance in 1:02 4/5, Smokey Image ran six furlongs in 1:13 2/5, Uncle Lino went five furlongs in 1:02 2/5, and Iron Rob drilled six furlongs in 1:14 2/5. Swipe—who is heading to Keeneland for his 3-year-old debut in the Lexington Stakes (gr. III) April 16—ran six furlongs in 1:13 flat.