Powell makes record $150,000 Santa Anita claim

Trainer Leonard Powell made a Santa Anita record claim of $150,000 Saturday for Nimbostratus, a 3-year-old French-bred filly that won the third race at six furlongs on turf by a neck under Abel Cedillo in 1:09.28.

The previous Santa Anita record of $125,000 was made in 1997. There have been three claims this meet for $100,000.

Claimed from trainer Peter Miller, the filly’s new owner is Mathilde Powell, wife of the trainer. She comes from an family of accomplished horsemen and as a youth in France rode as an amateur on the flat and over jumps.

A 3-year-old bay daughter of Wootton Bassett out of the Invincible Spirit dam Bahama Spirit, Nimbostratus was third in the restricted Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 14, won an overnight race by a nose on March 6 and was last of 10 in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes on May 1.

She has won two of nine career races, breaking her maiden in Ireland on July 3, 2020.

“She has residual value as a broodmare,” said Powell, a 44-year-old native of Deauville, France. “That was the main reason for claiming her. We have no immediate plans (for her next race).

“We’ll see how she comes out and find the best possible spot for her.”