Allowance brings together mixed bag of fillies

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A trio of 3-year-old fillies who met with varying results on Kentucky Oaks Day will make their returns to action in the second of two allowance races Sunday at Churchill Downs.

Put Da Blame On Me was fourth in the Grade 3 Eight Belles, Divine Elegance was second in an allowance race, and Modify was a dominant maiden winner on the May 6 Oaks undercard. They’re among nine fillies in the ninth of 10 races on a Sunday program that begins at the usual 12:45 p.m. Eastern.

The feature is a $52,000 first-level allowance at seven furlongs, and there is no clear-cut choice, with Dear Elaine joining the Oaks Day returnees among a core of likely favorites.

Put Da Blame On Me was 26-1 in the Eight Belles, when she was making her second start since owner Mike Bruder switched her over from Dale Romans to Mike Tomlinson. She ran respectably, although no threat to the six-length winner, Carina Mia.

Divine Elegance was stretching out for the first time when she rallied to be second behind an odds-on winner, Family Tree, and now makes an interesting turn-back from 1 1/16 miles for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel.

Modify was thoroughly dominant in winning the Oaks Day opener under Florent Geroux, and appears to have plenty of upside for Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Dear Elaine was returning from a five-month layoff when she broke through last month at Keeneland with her first victory. She is trained by Charlie LoPresti of Wise Dan fame.

The earlier allowance on the day, race 7, also is for 3-year-olds. It’s a $54,000 second-level turf mile which marks the return of the speedy Candy My Boy for trainer Roger Brueggemann.

Sunday normally ends a four-day race week at Churchill, but not on Memorial Day weekend. An 11-race Monday card will be run before the track goes dark Tuesday and Wednesday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Put Da Blame On Me, by Blame

(Last 3 Beyers: 76-74-75)

◗ Runner-up finishes in an ungraded Gulfstream stakes and a Keeneland allowance preceded her Eight Belles appearance.

Divine Elegance, by Uncle Mo

(Last 3 Beyers: 79-61-78)

◗ Developed a decent closing kick in six-furlong races at Oaklawn Park before Von Hemel gave her a chance to go longer.

Modify, by Candy Ride

(Last 3 Beyers: 75-70-69)

◗ This $475,000 yearling purchase was a beaten favorite at Oaklawn before her win on Oaks morning.

Dear Elaine, by Broken Vow

(Last 3 Beyers: 76-63-59)

◗ Her Keeneland score was a touching one, given that she’s named for the matriarch of the Klein family, which bred and own her.