Santa Anita: Will Then takes on the boys in the Pasadena
Will Then makes her 3-year-old debut Sunday as the only filly in a field of eight entered in the black-type $100,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita. With a Grade 3 win on her résumé, she also is the most accomplished in the lineup.
Will Then, trained by Jonathan Thomas, closed her juvenile campaign Nov. 30 with an attractive 2 1/4-length victory in the Jimmy Durante (G3) for fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar. Unfortunately for Thomas and owner-breeder Augustin Stables, preparations for her sophomore unveiling have not gone exactly as planned.
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Will Then enters the Pasadena with a spotty work tab. She worked once in January, twice last month and again last Sunday. Each drill went four furlongs. Thomas said the interrupted training schedule was the result of both the weather and a “little bug that was going around the barn,” as he described it.
“She is not exactly where we would like her to be, but this race might help her to get there,” Thomas said Saturday morning. “It’s mainly a timing thing why we’re going here. If she were to do well, it would allow us a couple of options. We can come back in two weeks for the China Doll here or maybe go for a race in Kentucky.”
Will Then is listed as the co-third choice at 9-2 on the morning line. The War of Will filly will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli for the first time. Thomas noted she is part of what is a “unique bunch of horses getting together.”
Tiz Secure, the 2-1 program favorite trained by Bob Baffert, switches to turf just two weeks after winning his debut sprinting six furlongs on dirt at Santa Anita.
Freedom’s Not Free, the 5-2 second choice for trainer Mark Glatt, is unproven around two turns.
Shea Brennan, also listed at 9-2 on the morning line, is a two-time stakes winner vs. California-breds but never has raced on turf and never faced open company.
There is also a maiden in the field. Rank (15-1) is trained by Doug O’Neill.
“It seems like everyone has an obstacle to overcome,” Thomas said.
The Pasadena is the ninth of 11 races Sunday with the start scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. The first post is at 3:30 p.m.