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Originally Posted by Kasept
Setsuko
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Mandella looks for way back to Derby
By Steve Andersen
http://www.drf.com/news/article/111004.html
ARCADIA, Calif. - Richard Mandella watched the 2009 Kentucky Derby in a condition somewhere between amazement and shock.
Mine That Bird, who had been trained by Mandella for one race the preceding winter before being sold, was storming home in a 50-1 upset for trainer Chip Woolley.
"He was great that day," Mandella said. "How do you expect a horse to run like that?"
This year, the Hall of Fame trainer wants to take his own chance at the Kentucky Derby, perhaps with Setsuko, who starts in Saturday's $150,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.
Setsuko is making his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes over 1 1/8 miles, his sixth career start. He needed five races to beat maidens, but did so by three lengths over 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park in December. In his only start at this meeting, Setsuko was a game second in an optional claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf Jan. 27.