Anywho inches away to a two-length allowance score March 27 (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Stable Notes by Victor Ryan
ARCADIA, Calif.— The promising 3-year-old filly Anywho will be making a belated stakes debut for trainer John Sadler in Saturday’s GII Summertime Oaks going 1 1/16 miles.
Unbeaten in two starts, Anywho was shipped to Churchill Downs last month to run in the GII Eight Belles going seven furlongs on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 5. It was not to be.
Anywho arrived at Churchill Downs on April 29 the Saturday before the race. The following day on Sunday she spiked a temperature.
“Entries were being taken on Monday, so we didn’t even enter her,” Sadler said Thursday morning. “It turned into a flight of nothingness.”
While it was a disappointing turn of events for Sadler and owner Hronis Racing, hopes are high for Saturday. Anywho drew the outside post in a field of seven entered for the Summertime. She is the 3-1 co-second choice on the morning line. Veteran jockey Joe Bravo will be aboard for the first time.
“She had to miss four or five days of training when at Churchill Downs, but since returning she’s been right on schedule,” Sadler said. “She’s really been working well and I like the draw for her first time going two turns. Being on the outside should allow her to stay in the clear.”
Anywho has worked four times since her trip to Kentucky. They include a six-furlong move in 1:13.00 here on May 22 followed by a sharp half-mile drill in 59.80 seconds on Sunday.
By Bolt d’Oro, Anywho was a debut winner last October going seven furlongs at Belmont Park for trainer Tom Albertrani and owner Robert Masiello. She was subsequently entered in last year’s Keeneland November Horses of All Ages Sale where she commanded $290,000. David Ingordo, who serves as a bloodstock agent for Hronis Racing, signed the ticket for the filly.
In her only start for her new connections, Anywho was a sharp two-length winner here going seven furlongs on March 27. The effort earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure and was also well-rated on the Ragozin Sheets, Sadler noted.
“She was really impressive going seven-eighths,” Sadler said. “It got a good Ragozin number, so we’re really excited about her and what she can do on Saturday.”
Also in the Summertime Oaks, Sadler entered Ancient Peace but she could be scratched in favor of next week’s GIII Honeymoon Stakes going 1 1/8-miles on turf. Ancient Peace romped in an allowance that was taken off the turf April 8. It’s her only start on dirt. Owned by Boardshorts Stable, the daughter of War Front most recently was fourth as the odds-on favorite in the GIII Providencia at 1 1/8 miles here April 29.
“We’re going to talk to the owners later today and see if we want to go in the Summertime. Otherwise, we’ll probably wait until next week for the Honeymoon,” Sadler said.
The Summertime Oaks goes as the eighth race on Saturday’s nine-race card. Post time is approximately 4:30 p.m. PT. The field in post position order with riders: The Alys Look, Mike Smith (5-2); Window Shopping, Hector Berrios (5-1); And Tell Me Nolies, Ramon Vazquez (4-1); Lily Poo, Umberto Rispoli (8-1); Doinitthehardway, Juan Hernandez (3-1); Ancient Peace, Tiago Pereira (8-1); Anywho, Joe Bravo (3-1).
