Well Hello looks to build on sparkling debut in allowance

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 3-year-old filly Well Hello made quite a first impression when she won her career debut in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on March 4.

Closing from last, Well Hello pulled away to win by 3 1/4 lengths. The win has led to a partial private sale and hopes Well Hello can develop into a stakes filly this spring.

A start in an allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option at 6 1/2 furlongs in Thursday’s seventh race at Santa Anita will determine her immediate career path.

“She’ll have to improve,” trainer Dan Blacker said. “She has every chance to. We’ve always thought highly of her.”

The optional claimer drew a solid field of six, including Best of Me, another sharp winner of a maiden race March 4; True Royalty, unraced since winning a maiden race at Del Mar last August; and Cognitive, who was third in an optional claimer March 1 at 2-5.

KEY CONTENDERS

Well Hello, by Quality Road Beyer: 65

◗ Well Hello raced for Radley Equine, Rick Gold, and Buscar Stables when she won her maiden. Since then, the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners syndicate purchased a 50 percent interest, Blacker said.

◗ Well Hello is likely to race from off the pace with fillies such as Best of Me and Highland Lass expected to show speed.

“She might be a little closer this time,” Blacker said. “I would have liked one more week to get her ready. We’re hoping she gets better down the road.”

◗ As for springtime stakes goals, Blacker was noncommittal last weekend.

“I’m not going to talk about that,” he said. “We have to win first.”

Best of Me, by Super Saver Beyer: 80

◗ Best of Me may go favored. The filly disputed the pace throughout a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on March 4 and won by 3 1/4 lengths under leading jockey Evin Roman as the 2-1 favorite.

◗ Trained by Peter Miller, Best of Me has been based at Sana Anita in recent weeks. Miller has the bulk of his stable at Del Mar.

Cognitive, by Uncle Mo Beyers: 63-76

◗ After beating maidens by a half-length in her debut Jan. 26, Cognitive was a disappointing third in an optional claimer at seven furlongs March 1. Cognitive broke from the rail in that field and has the inside draw again Thursday.

◗ Trained by Bob Baffert, Cognitive will be ridden for the first time by Joe Talamo, who replaces Drayden Van Dyke.

True Royalty, by Yes It’s True Beyers: 59-74

◗ Van Dyke rides True Royalty, who beat maidens in her second start last summer. True Royalty is trained by John Sadler, who has a solid record with horses returning from layoffs.

◗ Sadler said True Royalty has been plagued by minor setbacks on occasion in the last eight months.

“We’re excited to have her back,” Sadler said. “She had a couple of missteps after she broke her maiden. She’s been ready for a couple of weeks.”