Amandine Impresses Again in Lady of Shamrock Stakes
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Photo: BENOIT PHOTO
Amandine wins the Lady of Shamrock Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Usually when a horse is entered in a pair of races a few days apart, it means they'll run in one and scratch out of the other.
That may not be the case for Amandine.
After her second straight impressive score on U.S. soil for Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, and Shanderella Stables in the $75,000 Lady of Shamrock Stakes Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park, the English import who won just once in 11 starts in her native country could run right back in the Dec. 29 American Oaks (G1T).
"We'll know more in the morning," said winning trainer Jeff Mullins after the Shamardal filly's 2 1/4-length score over Ms Bad Behavior in the one-mile grass test. "It's possible."
Wednesday's trip went well for the 3-year-old filly, as she relaxed in fourth on the rail in the first turn under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, followed pacesetter Ms Bad Behavior through the second bend as others moved wide, angled off the rail at the top of the lane, and easily breezed by the frontunner to finish the distance in 1:35.10. Stradella Road was third, another three-quarters of a length back.
"I had a ton of horse," Van Dyke said. "My only concern was finding the right horse to follow. I know Ms Bad Behavior might be better than (Stradella Road, who was pressing on the outside), so I dropped in behind (Ms Bad Behavior) and got out. ... I had so much horse I could have made a spot if I needed to, but the way I saw it playing out, I was confident I was going to get through."
Mullins said the idea to run back in the American Oaks came from Van Dyke, who also rode her in her U.S. debut, a 3 1/4-length romp in a Nov. 22 optional-claiming allowance on the Del Mar grass.
"He's raved about her ever since he rode her the first time," Mullins said. "And then working her a few times here, he said, 'Man, I don't know if I've ever been on a filly like this before.'"
Bred in England by Lordship Stud out of the Danehill Dancer mare Kissable, Amandine now has a 3-4-3 record from 13 starts and $109,584 in earnings after her first stakes win.