Asmussen also has Shuvee covered

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Just because he ran older female division leader Midnight Bisou in Saturday’s Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park doesn’t mean trainer Steve Asmussen can’t win Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga.

Asmussen will send out She’s a Julie in the Shuvee, which was supposed to be the standalone feature on Sunday’s card at Saratoga. However, the Shuvee now goes as the last of 13 races on Sunday’s card, which includes 11 races from Saturday’s card – canceled due to extreme heat – plus a steeplechase race that begins the card at 12:20 p.m.

She’s a Julie, a daughter of Elusive Quality, won the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs on May 3 for her fourth stakes victory and sixth win from 14 overall starts. She was late changing leads but was able to outfight Grade 1 winner Secret Spice to the wire.

She’s a Julie came back in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs and finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind winner Elate and beaten a head by Blue Prize for second. Elate came back to dominate the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap last Saturday.

She’s a Julie has breezed three times at Saratoga since she shipped here, and the last two, over the Oklahoma training track, were solid.

“I thought she ran solid, but it wasn’t her best race,” Asmussen said of She’s a Julie’s race in the Fleur de Lis. “She’s continued to train really impressively up here and we’re excited about her chances Sunday night.”

In her only start at Saratoga, She’s a Julie finished second in last year’s Grade 1 Alabama, finishing a neck in front of Midnight Bisou.

She’s a Julie will break from the rail under Ricardo Santana Jr.

Eight were entered in the Shuvee, but it could scratch down to a six-horse field as both Coach Rocks and Electric Forest were cross-entered in Saturday’s Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park and their connections were leaning toward running there.

Chad Brown, who trains Electric Forest, will send out Wow Cat in the Shuvee. Wow Cat, second in last year’s Shuvee, has not run since finishing second to Monomoy Girl in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Brown said Wow Cat had some ankle issues that needed to be addressed, delaying her return to the races.

“She’s come back well. She’s been working particularly well the last couple of weeks,” Brown said. “I think she’s fit enough to go.”

When Wow Cat ran in last year’s Shuvee, it was off a seven-month layoff and was her first start in the U.S. since shipping here from Chile earlier in the year.

“I feel she’s coming into the Shuvee better this year, having already had a campaign under her belt here in the States,” Brown said.

Pink Sands won the Lady’s Secret at Monmouth and returns to Saratoga, where she won a maiden race last year. Golden Award, beaten a nose in the Grade 3 Allaire duPont Distaff, was supplemented to this race by Summer Wind Equine and trainer Bill Mott.

Skeptic and Forever Liesl complete the field of expected runners.