MIRINDA FAVORED TO EARN 1ST STAKES WIN IN SATURDAY’S EVENING JEWEL STAKES PRESENTED BY THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE

3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES BRED OR SIRED IN CALIFORNIA SET TO GO 6 ½ FURLONGS

ARCADIA, CA (April 4, 2024)—Mirinda, who displayed big promise as a 2-year-old last year, returns from a five-month layoff seeking her first stakes win in Saturday’s Evening Jewel Stakes for California-breds at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.

Trained by Gary Mandella, Mirinda aired by 6 ½ lengths when winning her 5 ½ furlong debut last September at Del Mar. The effort earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure, which is easily the highest in the Evening Jewel field. Following that effort, Mirinda went straight to the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita and finished third as the even-money favorite Nov. 3.

Mirinda, who is by Kentucky-based stallion Mitole, was purchased by owner Thomas L. Nichols for $190,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of Racing Age Sale. Installed as the 8-5 favorite on Jon White’s morning line, she will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith

Grease Missle, the 2-1 second choice with Geovanni Franco up, enters off consecutive stakes wins at Turf Paradise. This will be her first start at Santa Anita and first for trainer Lorenzo Campuzano.

By Clubhouse Ride, Grease Missle won the 6 ½-furlong Princess of Palms Stakes by 4 ½ lengths Feb. 26 and came back to air by 8 ¼-lengths in the 6 furlong ATBA Three Year Old Sales Stakes March 19. Her overall record is 4-0-2 in six starts with $125,528 in earnings for owner Jeremy Ramsland.

Safa makes her stakes debut for trainer Gary Stute. She switches back to dirt after two near-misses in a pair of statebred first-level allowances on turf. Most recently on March 3 at Santa Anita, the Grazen filly was beaten a half length when going a mile on the sod.

Regular rider Tiago Pereira has the call aboard Safa, who is 6-1 on the morning line. Safa, a $23,000 auction buy last year, has a record is 1-4-2 in eight starts with $112,060 in earnings for owners Souheil Bisharat and Khalil Khoury.

Clubhouse Bride returns to dirt where she is a perfect 2-for-2 for trainer Eric Kruljac. Most recently, the Clubhouse Ride filly set the pace and was nailed late to be beaten a half length in a first-level statebred allowance at 6 ½ furlongs on turf. In her first two starts, both on dirt, Clubhouse Bride romped by seven lengths in her debut going 5 ½ furlongs at Los Alamitos Dec. 10 and came right back to win a first-level statebred allowance going six furlongs on dirt here Jan. 1.

Listed at 5-1 on the morning line, Clubhouse Bride will have regular rider Ricky Gonzalez in the irons. She is 2-1-0 in four starts with $81,100 in earnings for owners Double Kee Racing LLC, Kruljac, Rebekah Lawless, Frank Lewkowitz and Karen Lewkowitz.

THE EVENING JEWEL WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 12  Approximate post time 1:30 p.m.

1. Safa—Tiago Pereira—120
2. Mirinda—Mike Smith—120
3. Roberta’s Love—Frankie Dettori—120
4. Grease Missle—Geovanni Franco—124
5. Quick Kate—Juan Hernandez—120
6. Clubhouse Bride—Ricky Gonzalez—122

With 12 races Saturday, including five stakes, first post time is 12 p.m. PT. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.