Superstition Earns First Taste Of Grand Glory In Wishing Well

ARCADIA, CA – Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella’s Superstition earned her first taste of grand glory at the stakes level after taking Monday’s $75,000 Wishing Well at Santa Anita Park.

Sent from post 6 under Flavien Prat at 9/2 odds, Superstition tracked three-wide down the backstretch while So Much Happy set a blistering pace through opening fractions of :20.75 and :43.03.

Superstition advanced in the far turn along the inside of the 7/5 favorite Lighthouse, then dispatched of that rival at the top of the stretch as she surged toward the front.

Taking the lead at the 1/8 pole, Superstition kicked clear and had more than enough left to keep the fast-closing Oleksandra 1 1/2 lengths behind her, completing the 6 1/2-furlong firm turf sprint in 1:14.22.

“She had been training better going into this,” Mandella said. “She settled better today, which is encouraging. We might think about a mile next time.”

Perhaps left with too much to do against the pace scenario, Oleksandra flew from last to second in the end, crossing 1 3/4 lengths clear of a three-way photo for third.

The show honors went to Constantia by a neck and a nose over Guitty and Lighthouse, respectively.

So Much Happy and an eased Aqua Seaform Shame completed the order of finish.

Superstition’s win was a sharp return to the races after a troubled trip in the local Las Cienegas Stakes (G3) caused by Lighthouse crossing over Oleksandra, which forced that foe to clip heels and toss her rider. Superstition’s record now stands at 7-3-2-1 with $ earned for co-owners Perry and Ramona Bass, who purchased the 4-year-old Ghostzapper filly for $850,000 as a yearling.

“I was disappointed in her last race because we know she has a lot of ability; her earlier races show that,” Prat said. “She has plenty of speed, but it’s nice to see her relax. Having that horse in front of us helped.

Superstition returned $11.80 to win, $4.60 to place, and $3.20 to show. Oleksandra brought back $3.20 to place and $2.40 to show. Constantia paid $4 to show.