Churchill Downs: Groupie Doll likely to work twice prior to Keeneland stakes

Groupie Doll is likely to work twice at Churchill before running in ther TCA Stakes at Keeneland, her final prep for the Breeders' Cup.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Groupie Doll most likely will have two easy workouts at her Churchill Downs base prior to making her final start before the Breeders’ Cup in the Oct. 6 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland, trainer Buff Bradley said Saturday morning.

“I haven’t mapped it out exactly, but that’d probably be what we’d want, a couple of easy half-miles the next two weekends,” Bradley said.

Groupie Doll is the leading candidate for the Nov. 2 BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita after romping in her last three starts, the latest being a 3 3/4-length triumph in the Sept.  8 Presque Isle Downs Masters. A 4-year-old filly by Bowman’s Band, she is owned in a partnership led by Bradley and his father, Fred.

The Grade 2, $200,000 TCA Stakes will be run at six furlongs on the Keeneland Polytrack. The Masters was run on the Tapeta synthetic at Presque Isle. The BC Filly and Mare Sprint is set for seven furlongs on dirt.

“I may be wrong, but I think she likes the dirt better than the synthetics,” Bradley said.

Groupie Doll returned to training Thursday, and Bradley said his main concern is “just keeping the filly happy” until her next race.

“The number one thing about the Keeneland race is it’s a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “Number two, it’s close to home, and number three, the timing is working out perfectly for us.”

Bradley said he was thrilled with the way Groupie Doll dominated the Masters.

“I watched the replay again [Friday] night,” he said. “She made a nice move down the backside to get in position, and when the real running started, she did it so easy.”

The Masters was the first race in four months for Groupie Doll, following a record-setting score in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the May 5 Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill.