Fault sitting on ready for Adoration

ARCADIA, Calif. – Fault emerged from her comprehensive win in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational in March in such outstanding condition that she will start in Sunday’s Grade 3 Adoration Stakes at Santa Anita out of necessity.

“I can’t keep her on the ground,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “She’s come out of her race in good form. When they’re feeling good and you sit on them too long, things happen.”

The $100,000 Adoration Stakes, for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, will be a test for Fault, who is part of a field of seven in a race that is a key prep for the Grade 1 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares at a mile on June 2. D’Amato is also considering the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9 for Fault, a 4-year-old filly who races for Agave Racing Stable and Little Red Feather Racing.

The Adoration will be the first start of 2018 for Vale Dori, who won the Santa Margarita and Adoration Stakes in 2017. Trained by Bob Baffert, Vale Dori was later second by a neck to Stellar Wind in the Beholder Mile and in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar last August, her final start of 2017.

KEY CONTENDERS

Fault, by Blame Last 3 Beyers: 101-96-82

◗ Fault is unbeaten in two starts since joining D’Amato’s stable over the winter. In her California debut, Fault won the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf Feb. 17, closing from sixth in a field of nine. In the Santa Margarita, Fault closed from seventh in a field of 10 to win by 6 1/2 lengths over Mended, who is part of the Adoration field.

◗ D’Amato said he has been encouraged by Fault’s recent workouts, notably five furlongs in 1:00.60 last Monday.

“When they tell you they’re ready to run, you have to find a spot,” he said. “We had a nice spacing between races.”

Vale Dori, by Asiatic Boy Last 3 Beyers: 102-100-96

◗ Vale Dori was taken out of training last fall when she “didn’t show any energy,” Baffert said at the time, and missed the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar last November. Vale Dori won four consecutive stakes last year at Santa Anita, always racing on or near the lead. She won the Adoration Stakes by two lengths as a heavy favorite.

“I thought this would be a good race to start back,” Baffert said in a text message from Kentucky on Thursday.

Mended, by Broken Vow Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-87

◗ Mended has been second in two graded stakes this year, beginning with a head loss to Mopotism in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at a mile in January. In the Santa Margarita, Mended set the pace but could not keep up with Fault. Mended finished 2 1/4 lengths clear of Mopotism, who was third.

◗ Trained by John Martin, Mended won 10 consecutive races from February 2017 until last December, including the Claiming Crown Glass Slipper Stakes at Gulfstream Park in December. The winning streak began in a $12,500 claimer at Golden Gate Fields. The La Canada and Santa Margarita stakes are Mended’s only appearances in graded stakes.

La Force, by Power Last 3 Beyers: 87-82-91

◗ A quick pace set by Mended or Vale Dori may help La Force, who was a close third in the La Canada but a well-beaten fourth in the Santa Margarita. Trained by Paddy Gallagher, La Force has yet to win a stakes.