SANTA ANITA Pretty Point primed for turf distance

When Pretty Point rallied from last to finish third in her stakes debut in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita in December, a new goal emerged for the 2020 season.

Distance turf races became the focus for Pretty Point, such as Sunday’s $75,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita.

The Possibly Perfect Stakes will be Pretty Point’s first start in a stakes since the American Oaks, when she closed from eighth at 24-1 to finish two lengths behind favored Lady Prancealot.

Pretty Point finished fifth in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at a mile on turf May 15 in her first start since February. She closed with interest from last of 10 to finish 3 3/4 lengths behind Ellie Arroway in a race trainer Paddy Gallagher considered a satisfactory prep.

“It was shorter than she acts like she wants,” Gallagher said. “She ran a respectable race going a mile. It had been a while since she’d run. We were looking at this race.”

Pretty Point will be ridden by Mike Smith in the Possibly Perfect, the first time the Hall of Fame rider has been aboard the filly since the American Oaks. Pretty Point’s experience at the distance and the presence of Smith, who won three graded stakes at Santa Anita on the weekend of June 6-7, are positives for Pretty Point, who races for Newtown Anner Stud, Dave Bowden, Sabine Buerchler, and Gary Thompson.

“She’s got to step up now,” Gallagher said. “She acts like she goes a mile and a quarter. I’m looking forward to seeing her race.”

Pretty Point is part of a field of seven in the Possibly Perfect, the final race on a nine-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The distance should work for Strike at Dawn, who was fourth after leading in the stretch in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar last November.

Dogtag, a winner of two stakes for trainer Chad Brown, is the only stakes winner in the field. Now trained by Richard Mandella, Dogtag has started twice this year, finishing second in a second-level allowance race at a mile on March 8. Dogtag won a similar race on May 16, beating four fillies and mares who are part of the Possibly Perfect field.

Leading jockey Flavien Prat has the mount on Dogtag, who has impressed Mandella with her recent behavior.

“She does everything really well,” Mandella said. “She seems a little more professional as we go.”

Dogtag stalked the pace in the May 16 win, and Mandella envisions a similar trip on Sunday.

“I’m thinking there is not a lot of speed,” he said. “I think she’ll be pretty handy.”