As a 3-year-old grass filly, Spendarella recorded two victories in Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes and the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes in March and April. Before placing a solid second in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, she was presented by the Japan Racing Association.
Txope, who has competed in the most races (12), makes her American debut after first placing in the Group 2 German One Thousand Guineas. Since being brought to the United States during the winter, Bellabel has made two runs and is unbeaten, her most recent being the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes on this Del Mar turf track. Before finishing the fifth last month in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational, Cairo Memories won the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes in quick succession this spring. Tezzaray, who finished 10th in San Clemente after an eight-month break, hopes to build on her Jimmy Durante Stakes victory from last fall at Del Mar.
In her maiden attempt on grass, Lady T placed second in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks in June before placing fourth of 12 in the San Clemente. The Island of Love, who finished second and third in similar races after winning the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes in May, is another horse that is reasonably likely to compete in this group. On the Santa Anita turf in winter, Lucky Girl won the Lady Shamrock Stakes and the China Doll Stakes, but she has only been able to finish fifth three times since. In her second start against stakes competition, Sixteen Arches quickly moved up the field from 11th to second behind Bellabel in the San Clemente.
Before descending to allowance company and flying home from 10th to second last month, Ballet Dancing finished third in the Honeymoon. Gracelund Gray, who had just finished a nearly three-month hiatus, took first place in that event. Rhea Moon fought back to finish third in that race and is another filly with room for improvement. Similar to how Lady Clementine, who made her American debut on this same course just three weeks ago, placed second or third in all four of her previous outings in England, she may be capable of competing even if moving up from the maiden ranks into Grade 1 competition is a tall ask.
Being a daughter of Breeders' Cup Mile winner Karakontie from 2014, Spendarella has always been bred to be a superior horse on the turf. She won her first three races in February, March, and April of this year. In the last two stakes races, she received Equibase Speed Figures of 104 and 102, which are extraordinary for a 3-year-old filly so early in the year.
Spendarella won the Herecomesthebride Races, the first of the two stakes, by running away from 10 rivals from start to finish. A month later, she eased off the pace in the Appalachian Stakes and finished late. Spendarella was sent to England for the prestigious Coronation Stakes, and despite finishing second to the decisive four-length victor, she wasn't in the least bit embarrassed. She earned a Del Mar Oaks field-high 112 figure. Since her return, she has been working quite well, and jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was on board for the Appalachian, now has the mount. We can anticipate a spectacular performance strong enough to win.
Based on her victory in the German One Thousand Guineas, which she won when she was last seen (in June), and the 112-speed number she obtained in the Coronation Stakes, Txope poses the most significant threat to Spendarella. She has competed in 12 races, winning or placing second in eight, including the last eight stakes contests. Txope has completed three regular sessions on the Del Mar turf while working out there since the end of July, and he seems to be managing it well. She should therefore be in a solid position to add to her record in the last quarter mile of the Del Mar Oaks this year.
Ballet Dancing (94), Bellabel (95), Cairo Memories (108), Gold Dragon Queen (97), Gracelund Gray (98), Island of Love (99), Lady T (97), Lady Clementine (101), Lucky Girl (102), Rhea Moon (95), Sixteen Arches (95), and Tezzaray make up the remainder of the field (with the best Equibase Speed Figure) (88).
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