Bovell Road saves her speed for race day

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Bovell Road looks to extend her unbeaten streak to three Sunday in the $100,000 Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The top stakes of the meet for 2-year-old fillies, the six-furlong Sorority attracted a field of only five.

Bovell Road, a Todd Pletcher-trained homebred for the Melnyk Racing Stable, initially failed to show much zip in the morning, making it hard to gauge her ability. As a result, Bovell Road debuted at Monmouth on June 22 in a maiden claiming race for a $40,000 tag.

"In the Pletcher barn, you don't go out there and work like that," said assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta. "Todd got to see her in two of the weeks he was here. It's just her."

She was a 6 1/4-length winner in her debut and followed with a three-quarter-length win in the Colleen Stakes on July 30, Monmouth's Sorority prep.

"She's one of those fillies who doesn't breeze fast in the morning," Sciametta said. "She just does what she has to do on the work tab. When it comes to the afternoon, it's totally different."

Trainer Kelly Breen tries for a second straight Sorority with Eternal Grace. Breen followed a similar pattern last year with Keeneland Kat, who won her maiden at Monmouth and went right to the Sorority.

"She's been working great," Breen said. "She's dynamite. She's ready for the race. She's had enough schooling since breaking her

maiden. She came out of the race with a little bit of mucus so we gave her a little time. Now we're ready to take on all comers."

My Lucky Free heads Blue Sparkler

My Lucky Free goes for a second straight Monmouth stakes win in Sunday's $100,000 Blue Sparkler for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. She captured the Regret on Aug. 6.

My Lucky Free ran only four times last year in a season cut short by a knee injury.

"She's got a lot of ability," said trainer Cam Gambolati. "Knock on wood, she's been sound so far this year."

True Addiction awaits Matron

Breen also nominated True Addiction to the Sorority, but will reserve her for the Grade 1 Matron at seven furlongs at Belmont Park on Sept. 23. Last time out, True Addiction rallied for second in the Grade 2 Adirondack Breeders' Cup Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga.

"The way she was flying at the end of the race, she should enjoy more distance," said Breen.

Bella Shambrock will skip Sapling

Bella Shambrock, trained by Pletcher, will miss the Grade 3, $150,000 Sapling Stakes for 2-year-olds on Monday.

A commanding winner of Monmouth's Tyro Stakes, Bella Shambrock would have been heavily favored in the final graded stakes of the meet.

Bella Shambrock worked four furlongs here in 48.80 seconds on Thursday and did not come back 100 percent, Sciametta said.

Pletcher's barn will instead run Air Lord, who most recently rallied to get third in the Mountaineer Juvenile in a nice recovery from a bad stumble at the break.

According to Sciametta, there is no timetable for Bella Shambrock's return.