Abreu eyeing New York returns for Scottish Lassie, Jody's Pride

Scottish Lassie, the two-time Grade 1-winning filly, was scheduled to arrive in New York mid-week to continue preparations for her 4-year-old season that likely won’t get started until late spring. Meanwhile, her Jorge Abreu-trained stablemate Jody’s Pride worked at Belmont Park on Sunday morning as she eyes a return to turf in the Plenty of Grace Stakes on April 4 at Aqueduct.

Scottish Lassie won the Grade 1 Frizette at 2 and last year she took Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks by 15 1/2 lengths. Scottish Lassie finished fourth in the Grade 1 Cotillion on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing then was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Distaff after being off in her right front leg a few days before the race.

Scottish Lassie was cataloged in the Night of Stars sale at Fasig-Tipton on Nov. 3, but she failed to reach her reserve of $4 million. Her owners, Sportsmen Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds, wanted to race her as a 4-year-old.

:: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now.

“We set the reserve at $4 million, and she brought $3.8” million, Abreu said. “We wanted to run her another year.”

Meanwhile, Abreu plans to return Jody’s Pride to turf in the Plenty of Grace. Jody’s Pride is winless in three starts on turf, but she finished third, beaten just 1 1/4 lengths, in the Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs.

In her lone start this year, Jody’s Pride finished eighth in the Grade 2 Inside Information, a seven-furlong dirt race at Gulfstream Park.

Jody’s Pride worked back on Feb. 8 but spiked a fever shortly thereafter. She returned to the work tab Sunday breezing a half-mile in 50.31 seconds at Belmont, pulling away from the 7-year-old mare Rachel’s Rock late.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.