Bow Bow Girl, It'sfiftyshadetime dodge heavyweights in allowance

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Bow Bow Girl and It’sfiftyshadetime both hooked Grade 1 winners in their last start, and the company lines point them out as leading contenders in Sunday’s eighth race at Oaklawn Park.

The one-mile allowance for fillies and mares is restricted to 4-year-olds and up who have never won four races lifetime. It also carries a claiming option of $75,000, which is being used by leading contenders It’sfiftyshadetime, Melting Snow, and Beach Flower.

Also on the card, Greeley and Ben goes in the third race, a conditioned allowance that carries a $62,500 claiming option. The 8-year-old is in for the tag after running third last out in the Grade 3 Whitmore at Oaklawn.

Bow Bow Girl exits an April 1 allowance at Oaklawn in which she faced Maracuja, winner of last year’s Coaching Club American Oaks. Bow Bow Girl ran fourth, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by Maracuja, in the 1 1/16-mile race. The start was Bow Bow Girl’s first at Oaklawn.

“I thought it was a tremendous step up for her,” said Chris Richard, who trains Bow Bow Girl for Stanford Cole. “The winner of that race is a Grade 1 winner. So, she took a tremendous step up, from going to where she was very consistent within her allowance conditions to competition that was nothing like her last race. She competed very well. We were really proud of her effort.”

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Bow Bow Girl is part of a group of horses Richard brought to Oaklawn following the close of the Delta Downs season in March.

“We’ll stay here until the end of the meet and then head to Canterbury,” he said.

Bow Bow Girl, a 4-year-old daughter of Oxbow, won twice during the Delta meet and also ran second by a neck to It’sfiftyshadetime in a restricted stakes there, the $75,000 Owner Appreciation Distaff on March 4.

“She’s been a very nice filly, had a very productive winter,” Richard said. “She’s continued to train well, and I think she’s a horse that’s getting better.

“This is another tough spot, but she’s a non-four lifetime, and those races are never easy.”

Bow Bow Girl will break from post 5 in the field of eight Sunday. She will be moving back to the distance of her last win and will be ridden by Ry Eikleberry.

“I really think she’s best when she’s able to just stalk,” Richard said. “I think she really runs her best races just sitting right off the pace.”

It’sfiftyshadetime last raced at Fair Grounds and faced Clairiere, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing. It’sfiftyshadetime finished fourth to Clariere at Fair Grounds, beaten 7 1/2 lengths in the March 16 allowance. It’sfiftyshadetime earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 83, which is one of the best last-race numbers in the field Sunday.

Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 2 for trainer David Gomez.

Clairiere and Maracuja were both making their 4-year-old debuts in the allowance races. Both were to have run back Saturday at Oaklawn in the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap.

Sunday’s race also drew Let’s Cruise, who is going for her third consecutive win. She captured a $50,000 conditioned claiming sprint in February, then backed the performance up with a first-level allowance win at a mile in March. Both starts came at Oaklawn. Elvin Gonzalez has the mount from post 3 for trainer Mac Robertson.