Saratoga: My Miss Aurelia returns to the races Wednesday

Barbara D. Livingston

My Miss Aurelia has receovered from a shin problem and will make her first start since the 2011 Breeders' Cup on Wednesday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – My Miss Aurelia, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2011, makes her long-awaited return to the races Wednesday at Saratoga in the $100,000 Mandy’s Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.

The race will be the first for My Miss Aurelia since she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs, capping a perfect 4-for-4 campaign.

“It’s very exciting to get her back to the races,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains My Miss Aurelia for Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton.

My Miss Aurelia, a daughter of Smart Strike, missed the early part of her 3-year-old season due to a shin injury. She didn’t return to the work tab until May at the Vinery Farm before being shipped to Asmussen’s barn in early June. My Miss Aurelia had three workouts at Churchill Downs before shipping to Saratoga at the end of June. Since early July, My Miss Aurelia has breezed five times at Saratoga, including a six-furlong move in 1:13.03 on July 29 that impressed her trainer.

“She trained like a champion,” Asmussen said.

My Miss Aurelia returns at the track where she began her career. On July 22, 2011 – opening day of the Saratoga meet – My Miss Aurelia won her debut by a length. She returned 23 days to win the Grade 2 Adirondack by a neck over Millionreasonswhy.

In the fall, My Miss Aurelia became more dominant, winning the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park by 5 1/2 lengths before completing her campaign with a three-length victory in the Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs.

Julien Leparoux, who rode My Miss Aurelia in her two starts at Saratoga, will be reunited with My Miss Aurelia on Wednesday. My Miss Aurelia will break from post 6 in the seven-horse field.

Of the six entered against My Miss Aurelia, Srumdiddlyumptious has the best r è sum é with four wins from six starts, including listed stakes victories at Monmouth and Penn National.

Others entered include Well Kept, Ageless, Delightful Quality, Ullapool, and Xunlei.