Horses to follow in 2026: Nanda Dea

In an alternate universe, the 2025 Marie G. Krantz Memorial at Fair Grounds would have kicked off a productive campaign for Argentine champion Nanda Dea. I’m hoping that her reappearance in Saturday’s edition of the same stakes will be the launching pad to bigger and better things.

Last year, Nanda Dea scratched from the Marie G. Krantz after it was rained off the turf. In hindsight, that proved to be a harbinger of her star-crossed 2025. 

Although she won the Al Stall Memorial S. in her next opportunity, Nanda Dea was subsequently sidelined by injury. Her comeback was a forgettable attempt at the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland.

Now a seven-year-old by Northern Hemisphere reckoning, Nanda Dea might well have followed her trainer, Ignacio Correas IV, into retirement. But her connections are giving her more time to pad her U.S. resume. I read it as a very encouraging sign that Nanda Dea is prolonging her career with the transfer to Horacio De Paz. 

Bred by Alejandro Miserocchi’s Haras Santa Ines, celebrated for producing Hall of Famer Invasor, Nanda Dea races for its U.S. affiliate, Happy Friday. Her pedigree will look familiar. 

Nanda Dea is inbred 3x3 to the great A.P. Indy, with Mr. Prospector another prominent repetition. Her successful sire, Fortify, is bred on the cross of Distorted Humor over an A.P. Indy mare. Nanda Dea’s dam is by a Grade 1-winning son of A.P. Indy, Majestic Warrior. 

Moreover, Nanda Dea is a half-sister to two champions. Older half-brother Eliitas was honored as champion miler in Peru, while younger half-sister Nanabush ranked as a fellow champion in their homeland of Argentina.

Nanabush has also ventured stateside for the Santa Ines/Happy Friday team. A winner first time out for Correas in an Aug. 22 allowance at Colonial Downs, Nanabush faded to seventh in a typically deep Keeneland allowance. She likewise made the switch to De Paz, recently finishing sixth in the My Charmer S. over the Tapeta at Turfway Park. 

In contrast, Nanda Dea was flashing her star potential here before injury intervened. Considering that she was a late developer in Argentina, she may have more to offer in this final phase of her career on the racecourse.

Nanda Dea was unraced at two, untested in Group company until late in her sophomore season, and unbeatable up to a mile on turf. She competed exclusively at San Isidro, where she lost only twice from eight starts. Runner-up, the one time she tried dirt, she was a non-staying sixth in her Argentine finale, the about 1 1/4-mile Copa de Plata (G1) in December 2023. 

The true measure of Nanda Dea’s ability is her four-stakes winning streak that propelled her to champion miler honors. She perfected the stalk-and-pounce style, stretching clear with an authority that transcended her own division. 

The sequence began with the Clasico Omega (G2) as a sophomore over older distaffers, followed by the Clasico Eudoro J. Balsa (G3) in her four-year-old bow. 

Nanda Dea was just as convincing versus males. Justifying favoritism in the Clasico Ecuador (G2), she breezed between foes in a 3 1/2-length romp. 

In the main event, the Gran Premio San Isidro (G1), Nanda Dea again came through on cruise control as the favorite. Her regular rider, Martin Javier Valle, had a snug hold for as long as possible before driving her to the wire.

No wonder Correas had lofty hopes when he welcomed Nanda Dea into his Keeneland barn. Diego Mitagstein of turfdiario.com and Daily Racing Form’s Marcus Hersh each reported on his high regard for her. She had the right profile to become his next South American success story, in the line of Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Blue Prize, Dona Bruja, and Didia. 

In keeping with his patient approach, Correas gave Nanda Dea plenty of time to acclimate to the Northern Hemisphere. She was ready for her U.S. premiere during Keeneland’s fall meet in 2024. Nanda Dea announced her arrival with a sparkling allowance score in her trademark fashion. 

Illness put off the Fair Grounds phase of her campaign until last January’s Krantz Memorial. Then the rainy weather prompted another delay. 

At last, Nanda Dea lined up in the Feb. 15 Al Stall Memorial, only to experience a different form of bad luck in traffic. Yet it had a silver lining, for racing fans were treated to her escape artistry. When a semi-existent seam closed, jockey Jose Ortiz had to drop back and come around the leaders. 

Nanda Dea had the gears to overcome not only the loss of time and momentum in deep stretch but also the pace scenario. She had to quicken in the hottest part of the race to run down Join in the Dance and Way to Be Marie, who had been one-two at every call. 

“We knew when she came over that she was very nice,” Ortiz told Fair Grounds publicity, mentioning her Group 1 laurel. “Nacho (Correas) has done an amazing job with her – he does an amazing job with South American horses. 

“She worked out a great trip, other than I had to wait and wait and wait and then check a little bit at the three-sixteenths pole. She responded after that very well. I hope I didn’t make Nacho very nervous.”

Unfortunately, Nanda Dea sustained an injury, and according to Turf Diario, she underwent surgery. Her promising campaign was nipped in the bud. 

Although Nanda Dea was training forwardly for the Oct. 4 First Lady, she was obviously not herself when dropping back by the top of the lane. Ortiz was very considerate in wrapping up on her. 

Nanda Dea bounced right back from whatever was amiss that day, judging by how quickly she resumed working for Correas. She settled into De Paz’s barn at The Thoroughbred Center in November.

At her age, Nanda Dea is by definition in the twilight of her career. But with just 11 lifetime starts under her belt, maybe she can hold onto the glimmer of dusk for a bit longer before nighttime falls.