'Experiment didn't work' with Paradise Woods on turf

Press Release
Photo: Alex Evers / Eclipse Sportswire

“The experiment didn’t work,” Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said Saturday morning of Paradise Woods’ sixth-place finish in Friday’s $75,000 Osunitas Stakes.

The two-time Grade 1 winner and earner of more than $700,000 for owners Marty and Pam Wygod, frequently battling standouts like Unique Bella and Vale Dori, failed to show the needed response in the stretch in her grass racing debut as Fahan Mura pulled off a $15.40 upset under Edwin Maldonado for trainer Vladimir Cerin.

Mandella said  “We’ll take some time,” before deciding what’s next for Paradise Woods.

Up next, stakes-wise, for Mandella is Bombard (6-1) in Sunday’s $75,000 Wickerr Stakes. Unlike Paradise Woods,  Bombard is a turf  specialist. The 5-year-old gelded son of War Front, owned by Claiborne Farm and partners, has made all nine career starts on grass, winning four, and comes into the Wickerr on a two-race winning streak.

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