TDN RISING STARS

April 12, 2009 - Santa Anita, Race 8, Alw, USD $48,000, 6f, NW1X

Witty, f, 3, 2006 by Distorted Humor

1st Dam: Well Dressed (SW, $103,961), by Notebook
2nd Dam: Trithenia, by Gold Meridian
3rd Dam: Tri Argo, by Tri Jet

Owner: Ramona Bass, Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider
Breeder: WinStar Farm, LLC (KY)
Trainer: Richard E Mandella.

Being a half-sister to recent G1 Dubai World Cup hero Well Armed (Tiznow), Witty had every right to be a good one, and while she's got a ways to go to match her brother's exploits, she has stamped herself a filly to watch with a pair of good-looking wins. A $400,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Ramona Bass, Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm, Witty was let go at 7-1 odds in her unveiling at Santa Anita Mar. 4, but after a slow start came running to win the 5 1/2-furlong race in a brisk 1:02 3/5 (93 BRIS figure). With five- and six-furlong drills between that race and this, Witty was hammered down to 6-5 favoritism here and didn't disappoint. Up from her rail draw to lead the way through splits of :21 3/5 and :44 2/5, she turned the corner ahead by a length and a half. A host of challengers fanned wide to challenge in upper stretch, but Witty had another gear and pulled clear to a 3 1/4-length success. "She can run; that's the best part," trainer Richard Mandella commented after the race on HRTV. "She's nice-looking. We had a few problems with splints and shins last year, but everything's good right now. She has a lot of talent." Asked if he planned to step Witty up to stakes company or take things slowly, he said, "We're just going to enjoy this race." In addition to Well Armed, who took his career earnings to $5,179,805 with his World Cup victory, Witty is also a full to Helsinki, GISP, $207,269. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $55,800.