Bombshell gets green light for Marshua's River

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Team Valor International will have a top contender Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the $150,000 Marshua’s River, but not with the horse you might think.

Capla Temptress emerged as one of the more promising female turf runners based in Florida this winter by winning the Grade 3 My Charmer here last month for Team Valor, but she wasn’t entered by trainer Bill Mott in the Marshua’s River.

Instead, Bombshell will carry the red-and-green Team Valor silks as one of at least seven in the Marshua’s River. Team Valor sent Bombshell to Arnaud Delacour in April, and he will send the 6-year-old mare over from his winter base at Tampa Bay Downs.

“She’s really been a nice surprise since we turned her over to Arnaud,” said Team Valor president Barry Irwin. “She’s won three of her four starts for him and just got beat in a photo in the other. I don’t know if she’s improved that much or he’s just found some great spots for her.”

Bombshell was a 4 1/4-length winner of the Nov. 23 Forever Together over the main track at Aqueduct in her most recent start, but has won two of three starts on turf for Delacour. The Marshua’s River is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Other entrants in the Marshua’s River were expected to include Bellavais, I’m Betty G, La Signare, Monte Crista, Rose Tree, and Valedictorian.

Capla Temptress, meanwhile, could run next in the 7 1/2-furlong South Beach on the Jan. 26 Pegasus World Cup undercard.

The Marshua’s River is the richest of two Grade 3 turf stakes to be run here Saturday on an 12-race card. The $100,000 Tropical Turf at a mile likely will have Heart to Heart as a heavy favorite in a short field of older turf horses.