United, Jolie Olimpica ready for Memorial Day weekend stakes
Two of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella’s top turf horses -- United and Jolie Olimpica -- are on target for Santa Anita Park stakes over Memorial Day weekend.
Mandella said United, who in March made the long trip to Dubai for a start in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) that was ultimately canceled due to COVID-19, hasn’t missed a beat since returning. He's is on target for the Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2) going a mile and a quarter on May 23.
“He’s been doing very good. It’s about as simple as that,” Mandella said. “He went over there and didn’t get to run, but when he came back, luckily he was in great shape.”
As for Jolie Olimpica, Mandella had to decide between two Memorial Day options: the Monrovia Stakes (G2) going 5 ½ furlongs or the Gamely Stakes (G1) contested at nine furlongs.
The Brazilian-bred daughter of Drosselmeyer was a scintillating winner of the Las Cienegas (G3) sprinting in her U.S. bow on Jan. 11 and came back to be second as the odds-on favorite when stretched to a mile in the Buena Vista (G2) a month later.
Given the results, Mandella said the plan is to get Jolie Olimpica restarted in the shorter Monrovia.
“She ran so good in the five-and-a-half and we’ve been off, so I think that’s the better way to go,” he said.
United will be making his first start since winning the Feb. 1 San Marcos Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in his 5-year-old debut. Prior to that, he was runner-up in both the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) and Breeders’ Cup Turf.
A gelded son of Giant’s Causeway, United has a record of 12: 4-3-1 with earnings of $1,013,549 for LNJ Foxwoods.
Jolie Olimpica was undefeated in three starts in her native Brazil last season, which includes a Group 1 event, before being purchased privately by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm. After her smashing Las Cienegas win, she set the pace throughout when going two turns in the Buena Vista before getting nailed late by Keeper Ofthe Stars.
In addition to the Whittingham, Monrovia and Gamely, Santa Anita during Memorial Day weekend will also host the Shoemaker Mile (G1) -- a designated Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race -- and the Daytona Stakes (G3) for older turf sprinters.