Formula Rossa makes first Grade 1 attempt at La Brea

It was again in February. purple components He first gained consideration together with his eye-catching debut victory within the dash at Santa Anita. Since then, she has been patiently handled. However come Sunday, Vekoma’s daughter will lastly be heading to the large stage in Grade 1. La Brea 7 furlongs for 3 12 months outdated fillies.

“We knew that if she continued to develop and enhance, this race can be in our sights,” coach Mark Glatt mentioned Tuesday morning.

In a deep contest with 11 units to La Brea, Method Rossa is picked by the morning queue makers as simply 3-1 favorites horse racing nation. La Brea is one in every of three Grade 1s to open the 2025-26 Traditional on Sunday at Santa Anita. The 11-race program, which begins at 2 p.m. ET, additionally consists of the 7-furlong turf 3-year-old Rib (G1) and the 1 1/4-mile turf American Oaks (G1).

Within the Oaks, Glatt seems like he has an excellent likelihood to win with Take a Breath. If she and Method Rossa each win, Glatt, who has been coaching since 1994, will equal her present profession G1 win complete. Glatt’s two Grade 1 wins getting into this weekend each got here on Bing Crosby at Del Mar. In 2020, Collusion Phantasm gained, adopted by Dr. Sibel in 2021.

After her massive debut win, Method Rossa didn’t reappear at a permitted distance of six furlongs till Del Mar in August. She shortly ran away by 6 1/4 lengths and earned a Beyer Velocity Determine of 98. every day racing kindGreatest document among the many 11 La Brea contributors.

Method Rossa made his stakes debut three weeks later in opposition to older opponents within the six-furlong, 6.5-meter Rancho Bernardo (G3) at Del Mar. She dueled at a scorching tempo that day, ultimately giving technique to the nation’s high feminine sprinter, Candy Azteca.

“I assumed it was actually good,” Glatt mentioned of the Rancho Bernardo effort. “We had been hoping to win in opposition to a heavy favourite, however she turned out to be too good. That is solely the third begin of her (Method Rossa) profession and there was loads to ask of a filly like that. However she by no means embarrassed herself and we count on her to have the ability to take the subsequent step on Sunday.”

About take a breathShe might be aiming for her first American win on the Oaks after beginning her profession with three wins from seven races within the UK. She got here again from final place within the Del Mar Oaks (G1) in August to complete a detailed fourth, however suffered a crushing defeat at Santa Anita in September, dropping to the primary favourite. Most lately, Take A Breath ran evenly within the Autumn Miss (G3) at Santa Anita and was by no means an element.

“Perhaps her final run was somewhat disappointing, however since she’s been right here we have had no luck in any respect,” Glatt mentioned. “She had a very unhealthy journey (within the allowance). She needed to be checked very exhausting, however at that time within the race she seemed like a straightforward winner.”

Take a Breath may have a brand new jockey within the Oaks, with Airad Ortiz Jr. taking on the irons.

“We had been trying to make a change and he was right here on opening day and was in a position to deal with it,” Glatt mentioned of the five-time Eclipse Award winner.