Will Then scores in the China Doll (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — Making her 3-year-old debut Sunday at Santa Anita, Will Then returned from a 3 ½-month layoff and promptly scored as the even-money favorite in the $100,000 China Doll Stakes for sophomore fillies at one mile on turf.
Trained by Jonathan Thomas for owner-breeder Augustin Stables, Will Then hadn’t started since winning the Grade III Jimmy Durante at a mile on turf on Nov. 30 at Del Mar. Her chances in the China Doll were enhanced Sunday morning when program favorite Casalu was scratched by trainer Bob Baffert.
With Umberto Rispoli aboard for the first time, Will Then settled in second behind pacesetter Amorita (2-1) as the latter filly set uncontested fractions of 23.67, 48.14 and 1:11.93 for six furlongs. Will Then took aim at Amorita entering the stretch, seized the lead near the eighth pole and won going away by 1 ½ lengths. Amorita held second by 1 ¼ lengths over Take Another Card (2-1) and Tequilandtherapy (10-1) completed the order of finish.
“I think she really ran awesome,” Rispoli said of the winner. “She is coming off a layoff and the race just set up perfectly. I had a good target ahead of me. I used Amorita in front of me as much as I could and at the top of the stretch, she changed leads and really did the rest.”
Will Then won in a time of 1:35.21
“She is a really special filly,” Rispoli added.
For Thomas, the win was the 300th of his career. He was not at Santa Anita and was unavailable for comment.
By War of Will, Will Then improved to 4: 3-0-0 with $152,571 in earnings. Prior to her win in the Jimmy Durante, Will Then broke her maiden at Woodbine going a mile on turf in October.
Casalu’s scratch meant there was no show wagering. Will Then paid $4.00 and $3.00. Amorita paid $2.80.
Live racing will return Friday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
