Santa Anita: Off bench, Anisette edges her way to Gamely win

Following a six-month layoff, Anisette and jockey Umberto Rispoli edged eastern invader Olivia Maralda to earn her third Grade 1 win, doing so Monday in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Santa Anita.

Anisette (5-2) settled in mid-pack behind run-off leader Ruby Nell (5-2), who was all alone while setting fractions of 24.09, 47.57 and 1:11.69 under Edwin Maldonado. Ruby Nell led until the top of the stretch, when Anisette and Olivia Maralda, under Flavien Prat, rushed past on her outside.

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Anisette proved to be going the best as she crossed the wire a half-length ahead of William Walden-trained Olivia Maralda.

“I went to see her after she was on rest, and she looked like she had gained weight,” Rispoli said. “She is tiny, but you could see that she gained some of the weight. I think it was a very good work from (trainer Leonard Powell) and the barn to get her ready for a Grade 1 after coming back off a layoff and at a mile-and-an-eighth. I don’t really think it was the distance she likes, but I think today she won, because she is much the best filly.”

Anisette won with a final time of 1:46.90. Olivia Maralda finished a length in front of third-place finisher Forever After All (17-1), who shipped from Kentucky for trainer Brendan Walsh.

A 4-year-old Awtaad filly, Anisette had not started since winning the 1 1/4-mile American Oaks (G1)on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita for owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Last year she also won the Del Mar Oaks (G1) and San Clemente (G2) at Del Mar. She is 10: 6-3-0 with $786,871 in earnings.

Anisette, who was the second choice with $754 fewer dollars in the win pool than Ruby Nell, paid $7.60, $3.60 and $2.60. Olivia Maralda returned $6.00 and $3.40. Forever After All, ridden by Juan Hernández, paid $6.60.