Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
With Uni out, Gamely wide open
ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday changed significantly Thursday morning when trainer Chad Brown said leading contender Uni will miss the race because of illness.
Uni was found to have a high white blood cell count shortly after arriving from New York, Brown said.
“The filly got sick on me,” he said. “I’m not going to be able to run. We’ll have to do the right thing by the horse.”
Uni may have been favored on the basis of her stakes wins at Belmont and Aqueduct since last September. Her absence leaves a competitive field of seven in the $300,000 Gamely, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares.
Six of the runners are graded stakes winners – Beau Recall, Hawksmoor, Madam Dancealot, Madame Stripes, Midnight Crossing, and Mopotism – while Sophie P was stakes-placed in Britain last year.
Beau Recall and Hawksmoor will inherit the role of favorites in the absence of Uni.
The Gamely Stakes is the eighth race, and third of three graded stakes, on Saturday’s nine-race program, which begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.
KEY CONTENDERS Beau Recall, by Sir Prancealot Last 3 Beyers: 91-87-88
Beau Recall won her first stakes in her 12th start in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at a mile on turf April 7, closing from last in a field of nine with a wide rally. She could be the beneficiary of a good trip if Hawksmoor and Midnight Crossing set a quick pace.
Trained by Simon Callaghan, Beau Recall started in four consecutive Grade 1 races last summer and fall, including a nose loss in the Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf last August.
Hawksmoor, by Azamour Last 3 Beyers: 86-100-97
Hawksmoor ended her 2017 campaign with a second-place finish by a length in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar last November. She was second by a nose at 3-10 in the Dahlia Stakes at a mile on turf at Laurel on April 21, a race trainer Arnaud Delacour said she needed.
Delacour said earlier this week that the Gamely has been a goal in recent months.
“She’s been very consistent,” he said. “It’s hard to say if she’s better this year.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of speed there is. She’s usually a filly that can lay out some nice fractions and keep going.”
Distance will not be an issue. Hawksmoor won the Grade 2 New York Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Belmont Park last June.
Madam Dancealot, by Sir Prancealot Last 3 Beyers: 86-93-92
Madam Dancealot followed a win in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf here March 18 with a seventh in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs on May 5 on a soggy Kentucky Derby Day program. Trainer Richard Baltas dismissed the loss because of course conditions.
“It was a wet turf and she had to ship to Kentucky,” he said. “She bounced back really good. She’s coming back quickly and I know she likes the course.”
Midnight Crossing, by Dark Angel Last 3 Beyers: 82-92-86
Midnight Crossing won the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf last December in her first start for Baltas, but has lost three subsequent races. She was second by a halflength in the Santa Ana, and a troubled eighth in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes.
Baltas said Midnight Crossing will have a forward position in the Gamely. He admits the race will be a class test.
“She’s had plenty of time and I think she needs to be in the race, very close – first or second,” he said.
“I don’t know if she’s a Grade 1 type of filly. She’s won a Grade 3 and she’s a beautiful mare. We’ll be happy if we hit the board. We’ll try to win.”