Couple Mandella, Anisette Among formidable opponents

A day after the older distaffs faced off on turf in the Santa Margarita Stakes (G2), their turf rivals will meet in the May 27 Gamely Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park. While manager Phil D’Amato often has such events surrounding him, it could be a one-two punch from the Richard Mandella barn or the return of the 2023 powerhouse Anisette That gets the job done this time.

For the 1/8-mile Gamely, Mandella was entered Linda’s gift And Ruby Nell , both of this year’s winners were at Santa Anita. Tiago Pereira will ride Linda’s Gift from position 7, while Edwin Maldonado will ride Ruby Nell from position 2.

A gift from Linda, my 5 year old daughter Superioris carrying a three-time winning streak that began with last year’s Red Carpet Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar and continued through the January 21 Astra Stakes and February 24 Santa Ana Stakes (G3T), both at Santa Anita. Linda’s gift initially competed in the East at Gulfstream Park, Belmont ParkAnd Saratoga Race Course for coach George Weaver. Mandella took over last year and after winning a quarter of his matches, Linda’s Gift began his current streak.

“She was a little nervous,” Mandella said after Santa Ana. He credited Pereira and several key people in his warehouse for doing “a fantastic job of turning the wire around”.

The 4 year old daughter of Bolt d’Oro , Ruby Nell is coming off a three-quarter length victory in the March 3 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) at one mile. Before that, she was third Didia And How surprising in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) on January 27 at Gulfstream.

Anisette had an impressive season last year and will make her 2024 debut in Gamely. Trained by Leonard Powell, a 4-year-old daughter of Oh my God in six starts in 2023 won four times and finished second twice. Anisette’s stakes wins include 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 iron. Rispoli returned to the saddle from position 6.

D’Amato has a good chance to win uncork the bottle . After racing in his native Australia and then on the East Coast, Uncorked won the Royal Heroine Stakes (G3T) on April 27 in his first start for D’Amato. With Frankie Dettori on board, Uncorked scored two points and Dettori would move up from 3rd place in Gamely.

Justique finished second to Uncorked in the Royal Heroine and trainer John Shirreffs entered her into Gamely, with Antonio Fresu assigned to take on the fifth position. Justique won the 2022 Desi Arnaz Stakes and has placed on six stakes other.

Nadette , trained by Neil Drysdale, most recently won the April 4 Wilshire Stakes (G3T) after finishing third behind Ruby Nell in the Buena Vista. Drysdale brought Hector Berrios up from 4th place.

The rest of the field included Yerwanthere , Olivia Maralda And Forever after all . The last two named were shipping from Kentucky.