Caroline Krystyna steps up for Stormy Blue Stakes
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Caroline Krystyna was a fleet debut winner and has a chance to steal away Sunday, when she makes her first start against stakes rivals in the $100,000 Stormy Blues at Laurel Park.
The race, which is for 3-year-old fillies, is set for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. A field of eight has been entered, including Sweet Harmony, winner of the Colleen at Monmouth Park; My Sweet Affair, who was third to multiple stakes winner Love Reigns in the $208,000 Limestone at Keeneland; and Alva Starr, a main-track-only entrant and half-sister to Grade 2 winner Cilla.
Caroline Krystyna launched her career on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard May 19 at Pimlico. She broke on top from post 11 in the 12-horse maiden special weight turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up and was clear through fractions of 21.72 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.39 for the half-mile. Caroline Krystyna proceeded to win by 2 1/4 lengths, while covering five furlongs on firm ground in a swift 56.43.
For her first start against winners Sunday, she’s worked consecutive bullets. The moves include a half-mile in 47.40 on June 11 at the Fair Hill Training Center.
“Caroline Krystyna is training great and seems to have moved forward since her maiden score,” said Keri Brion, who trains the daughter of Oscar Performance for Sterbenz Racing. “I’m looking forward to sending her out Sunday. I expect a big run – and for her to move forward.”
Carol Cedeno, who was aboard Caroline Krystyna in her debut, has the mount from post 5.
My Sweet Affair will start as a chief contender off back-to-back stakes starts. Following her effort in the Limestone – for which she earned this field’s best Beyer Speed Figure, an 89 – she was fourth in the Mamzelle on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Earlier in her career, My Sweet Affair won her maiden at five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park. Feargal Lynch has the mount from post 4 for trainer George Weaver.
Sweet Harmony is the lone stakes winner in the field, and the effort came sprinting on turf in the Colleen. She will be giving up recency to her rivals Sunday, as the Stormy Blues marks her first out since October.
Bosserati has won her last two starts, and the races were her first on turf. She will break from post 2. Bosserati comes off a first-level allowance effort at five furlongs June 2 at Pimlico. She’s one of two in the field trained by Brittany Russell, who also saddles Apple Picker.
Apple Picker is making her turf debut off an entry-level allowance win May 25 at Delaware Park. Her sire, Connect, gets about 10 percent winners on turf, while her half-brother, Joe Phillips, is a three-time winner on the grass.
After Eight is cutting back in distance after setting the pace and finishing seventh in the Old Hilltop at a mile on turf May 19 at Pimlico.
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