Mandella: Santa Ana Stakes distance 'no problem' for Siberian Iris
In
her last four races, Siberian Iris has run a combined total of 5 ¼ miles, so
there’s little doubt the Irish-bred mare trained by Richard Mandella will fancy
the mile and a quarter on turf in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ana Stakes for older fillies and mares at Santa Anita Park.
“She hasn’t run in a while, but she’s training great and we expect her to run a
good race,” Mandella said.
Rafael Bejarano, who has ridden the 6-year-old bay
three times previously, including to victory in the CTT & TOC Stakes at Del
Mar last Aug. 16, will be back aboard.
“The distance will be no problem for her,” Mandella added. “She can go three
miles if needed.”
Owned by Calumet Farm, Siberian Iris was third in the Astra (G3) at
a mile and a half last out on Jan. 19; fourth in the Rodeo Drive (G1) at a
mile and a quarter Sept. 28; won the aforementioned Del Mar stakes at 1 3/8
miles; and fourth in an overnight race at 1 1/8 miles last May 27.
In other news from the Mandella barn, the Hall of Fame trainer recently
received a two-year-old colt named Q B One, the first foal from the champion
mare he trained, Beholder.
“They always called Beholder the Queen Bee,” Mandella said when asked the
significance of the colt’s name. “So I guess that explains Q B One. I thought
it meant Quarterback One, but that’s not it.”
Meanwhile, San Marcos Stakes winner United, who was scheduled to run in the $6
million Dubai Sheema Classic on March 28, is on standby in the Middle East as
the Dubai World Cup event was cancelled because of the
coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re trying to figure out how to get him home now,” Mandella said.
United was runner-up by a head at 51-1 to Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar
in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.