Calder: Kya One looks to turn tables in My Charmer

MIAMI – Kya One could not quite catch up to Naples Bay when the pair first met in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel late this summer at Belmont Park. But trainer Chad Brown is hopeful that with a race under her belt, more distance to work with, and perhaps a little softer course, Kya One can reverse the outcome when the two fillies square off again in Thursday’s $100,000 My Charmer at Calder. The My Charmer is for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Kya One rallied from far back to finish fifth, four lengths behind Naples Bay, when making her U.S. debut in the one-mile Noble Damsel. Kya One had done all her previous racing in France, where she was Group 3 placed as a 3-year-old last year.

Kya One has worked steadily since her North American bow, and Brown is confident she’ll move forward off the race.

“I might have run her back a little too soon after she entered my program, and she was probably not totally prepared to run,” Brown said. “The turf was firm and the pace was fast that day, the field was really strung out, and it was just not her type of race. She should like the added distance, and from watching her train, I think she’ll appreciate a little more give in the ground as well.”

Brown said he’s looking for Kya One to build on her effort in the Grade 3 My Charmer and hopefully have a big year in 2013.

“This is the right level for her right now, but I think she’s a filly with a lot of ability who could take us somewhere next season,” Brown said.

Naples Bay will share high weight in the My Charmer along with Hooh Why at 119 pounds. Naples Bay has improved as the season progressed, with her performance in the Noble Damsel her best yet. She was unable to duplicate that effort, however, when she returned six weeks later in the Lady Baltimore at Laurel, finishing seventh as the 2-1 favorite for trainer Christophe Clement.

Hooh Why, winner of Gulfstream Park’s Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf in her 2012 debut, will return to the grass after finishing a distant fifth over Calder’s main track in the Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap just two weeks ago.

Speak Easy Gal figures to have an easy time controlling the pace of the My Charmer while coming off a game second going the same 1 1/8-mile distance in the Bonnie Heath Turf Handicap on Nov. 10.

My Pal Chrisy is back in peak form after cruising to an impressive 7 1/4-length triumph in defense of her title in the Heubeck, although she finished far back in her only previous try on grass.

Janicellaine, Callmethesqueeze, and Wicked Night complete the field.