The Argentine champion Nanda Dea has been confirmed for Saturday’s Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes (L) at Fair Grounds
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (Special para Turf Diario).- The Argentine champion Nanda Dea has been confirmed for Saturday’s Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes (L) at Fair Grounds, a 1 1/16-mile turf contest with a $100,000 purse. However, her participation hinges on track conditions.
Weather forecasts predict rain over the next two days, which may force the race onto the main track. Trainer Ignacio Correas Jr. has made his stance clear: if the race is taken off the turf, the daughter of Fortify will be scratched, as her only prior dirt attempt, at San Isidro, resulted in defeat.
A multiple graded winner in Argentina, Nanda Dea has victories over males in the San Isidro (G1) and Ecuador (G2), as well as the Eudoro J. Balsa (G3) and Omega (G3) against fillies. The Santa Inés homebred will break from post 5 in a field of 14, with José Ortiz in the irons. She is the 7-2 morning-line favorite.
This marks Nanda Dea’s stakes debut in the U.S., following a dominant allowance win at Keeneland last October. A minor setback caused her to miss a race, and the Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes (L) at Fair Grounds in January, also due to weather.
Among her rivals is Brazilian-bred Champagne Rose (Agnes Gold), trained by Kenny McPeek, who was seventh in the Marie G. Krantz on her U.S. debut. The chestnut previously won the 2024 Grande Premio OSAF (G1) at Cidade Jardim.
McPeek also sends out Lovely Princess (Twirling Candy), third in the Marie G. Krantz and winner of the Blushing K.D. Stakes (L) at Fair Grounds. Other contenders include Stir Crazy (Vancouver), trained by Mike Maker, who draws post 14. Join the Dance (Shackleford) and Way to Be Marie (Not This Time) are also in the mix.
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