Trainer Ron McAnally says the classy Mea Domina is up to the task despite being sidelined for six months when she faces nine fillies and mares in Saturday's $150,000 Las Palmas Handicap (gr. IIT) at one mile on the Santa Anita turf. Mea Domina has been on the shelf since winning the Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park May 30.
"She had a quarter crack behind," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "We had to treat it last summer finally. She's coming around now. She's settled down nicely. She used to be kind of hyper."
A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Dance Brightly, Mea Domina is owned by one of McAnally's long-time clients, Janice Whitham of Leoti, Kansas. The filly has a 5-3-0 record from 10 starts with earnings of $472,676.Trainer Ben Cecil expects significant improvement from Bond Deal in the Las Palmas.
The Irish-bred daughter of Pivotal finished 10th and last in her U.S. debut in the Osunitas Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 10.
"She had four days on the van between Italy and Amsterdam, then a flight over here and then quarantine," Cecil said. "It was a little too much to ask of her and she was just kind of flat."
"I don't think I've got her 100 percent cranked up for this race but if we don't run here . . . she's training very well. I think down the road she's going to be nice filly."
$150,000 Las Palmas Handicap (gr. IIT), fillies & mares 3 & up, 1 mile (turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Pickle, Jon Court, 117, 15/1
2. Mea Domina, Tyler Baze, 118, 4/1
3. Bond Deal, Jose Valdivia Jr., 113, 20/1
4. Aubonne, Javier Santiago, 115, 8/1
5. Elusive Diva, Pat Valenzuela, 119, 7/2
6. Chasethegold, Garrett Gomez, 115, 10/1
7. Bright Abundance, Corey Nakatani, 116, 3/1
8. Dream's, Alex Solis, 117, 9/2
9. Star Parade, Martin Pedroza, 115, 8/1
10. Halo Ola, Rene Douglas, 116, 8/1
Aubonne and Star Parade race coupled in the mutuel wagering as owner Gary Tanaka's entry.
