Finding next race for Havanna Belle a challenge

ARCADIA, Calif. – Havanna Belle won a stakes for the first time in Sunday’s $80,200 Astra Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf. Now, trainer Phil D’Amato wants to run Havanna Belle in more distance turf stakes for fillies and mares. The problem is that such races are concentrated in the second half of the year in Southern California.

This year, Santa Anita does not plan to run the 1 1/4-mile Santa Barbara Handicap in April, as it has in past years. The stakes schedule for the spring-summer meeting from May 5 to July 10 has not been released.

Havanna Belle gave a career-best performance in the Astra. Ridden by Brice Blanc, Havanna Belle ($22.20) was always near the front. She was third for the first mile, advanced to second in early stretch, and pulled away from eight rivals to win by 2 1/4 lengths over 18-1 Energia Fribby. “It took her a while to settle,” D’Amato said. “I thought Brice had her in a good spot.”

Owned by Michael House, Havanna Belle has won 3 of 14 starts and earned $111,543. D’Amato’s options for distance turf races in Southern California later this year include the CTT-TOC Handicap at Del Mar in August, the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes here in September, and the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap at Del Mar in November. “I haven’t mapped out any plan yet,” D’Amato said on Monday. “We know she can go the route of ground. I’ll look at races at a mile and a quarter and up. For the right spot, I’d ship her around. She’s a straightforward filly. Nothing bothers her.”