Mambo Slew Has Taken to Turf

Perfect in two starts on the turf, Mambo Slew will try for her third victory on the grass in today’s $75,000 Blue Norther at Santa Anita.

A one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, the Blue Norther attracted eight entrants, three of which are coming off wins on the grass.

Owned by Frank Manganero and trained by Patrick Biancone, Mambo Slew, a daughter of Kingmambo, was fifth in her main track debut at Saratoga on Aug. 3 but has made no mistakes since switching to the turf.

Mambo Slew beat maidens by a length Oct. 18 during the Oak Tree meet, then went to Hollywood Park and won the Miesque, taking the Grade III by 1 1/2 lengths.

Ticker Tape, who finished directly behind her that day, also is in the Blue Norther. The English-bred daughter of Royal Applause, who was 24 lengths behind the leader at one point in the Miesque, adds Lasix for trainer Jim Cassidy.

Besides Mambo Slew, the other fillies in the field coming off grass wins are Shake Off, a daughter of A.P. Indy who beat maidens Nov. 20 at Hollywood Park, and John’s Kinda Girl, a Lost Soldier filly who also defeated maidens at Hollywood Park on Dec. 13.

Race of the day: Indy Dancer, who won his first two starts but has lost four in a row since, will try to rebound for trainer Todd Pletcher in today’s eighth, a $36,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles, at Gulfstream Park. John Velazquez will ride the 4-year-old A.P. Indy colt.

One for the road: Reaching Up shouldn’t miss in today’s seventh at Aqueduct and looks like a single in both the pick four and the pick six, which has a carry-over of more than $270,000. Javier Castellano will ride the 4-year-old Unbridled’s Song filly for owner Peter Karches and trainer Lisa Lewis in the $43,000 allowance for New York-bred fillies and mares. Players at Santa Anita and its simulcast facilities will have to limit their action to Aqueduct’s pick four because only the last four races are being offered here.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Slew’s Prince, Dixie Law and Doctor Ted in the third, Jovially in the fourth and Macward, American All Star and Golden Bonus in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/39. Money: Previous day/meet total: $3/$196.40. Total money bet: $244.