Santa Anita: D'Amato has a strong pair for the Megahertz

After being the beaten favorite in the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel on Jan. 8, Public Assembly returns as the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday’s Grade 3 Megahertz for older fillies and mares at one mile on turf. Joining Public Assembly in the field for trainer Phil D’Amato is Sigh No More (10-1), who makes her local debut after previously being based in the east with trainer Brendan Walsh.

Public Assembly was favored at 3-5 in the Frankel going 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 8. She checked in fifth. D’Amato said “the race was over right at the start.

Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.

“She broke last and they went really slow. She’s a mare that needs to be stalking,” D’Amato said. “She never got in position to win. They were very slow fractions with the rails out.”

Public Assembly will have a new rider Saturday as Hector Berrios takes over for the injured Umberto Rispoli.

Sigh No More, a 4-year-old Ireland-bred filly by Starspangledbanner, was purchased privately by owner R Unicorn Stable and sent west to D’Amato. Last year, she won the Boiling Springs Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Monmouth Park. She’ll have Kazushi Kimura aboard for her local unveiling.

“They sent her to California looking for some firmer ground,” D’Amato said. “She’s trained well. Kimura’s been breezing her for me the last month or so, so he knows her well. Let’s see what she does.”