The 4-year-old filly Tanda, third-place finisher in last month’s
Grade II A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park, will be under new
management when she is part of a field of seven in Sunday’s Grade III,
$150,000, 6 ½ furlong Rancho Bernardo Handicap.
Mike Mitchell has taken over the training from Dan Hendricks and Joe
Talamo will be aboard for the first time, the fifth rider in 12 starts
in Tanda’s career.
“She really was a good filly last year and the goal this year is the
Breeders’ Cup ($1 million Filly & Mare Sprint),” Mitchell said.
Tanda won four of six starts including a pair of Grade III events and
finished third in the Grade I Acorn at Belmont Park in 2010 to produce
earnings of $216,990.
“Danny had done a great job with her, but she wasn’t running to
expectations,” Mitchell said. “I’ve had horses with the owners (Tommy
Hutton’s Dream Stable LLC) before, and Danny still has horses with them.
“But we’re running out of time with her and they gave her to me to see if she’ll respond to my training.
“She’s done well, but if she’s going to win a Grade I down the line,
she’s got to win this Grade III. I put Joe on the horse because he works
well with me and I have a lot of faith in Joe.
“She got a nice outside post (No. 6 of 7) and that is the one thing
that I couldn’t do anything about. I just love her on the outside and
with that Joe will be able to ride his own race.”
The Rancho Bernardo will go as the third on a nine-race Sunday card with the usual 2 p.m. first post