Chanel's Legacy preps for Iowa Oaks in Panthers Stakes

Trainer Lynn Chleborad said last month that her good filly Chanel’s Legacy might or might not get in a race before the Grade 3, $200,000 Iowa Oaks on July 6. But since the Iowa Oaks comes three months after Chanel’s Legacy’s most recent start, the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park, a prep race seemed like a logical course, and Chanel’s Legacy is among 10 entered in the $65,000 Panthers Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Thursday night at Prairie Meadows.

The Panthers, at one mile, is stocked with horses purchased last fall as part of the Conquest Stables dispersal at Keeneland’s November sale: Conquest Classic, Conquest Bandido, and Conquest Slayer all are entered. Conquest Slayer is owned by Judge Lanier Racing and trained by Miguel Hernandez, the same connections who sent Conquest Mo Money from Prairie Meadows to run in the Preakness Stakes.

None of the Conquest horses, however, appears to be a match for a close-to-form Chanel’s Legacy, who figures to be solidly favored under Alex Birzer. The Thursday feature is carded as race 8 at 10:15 p.m. Eastern.

:: Add a 5-card pack of PPs and save 55¢/card!

KEY CONTENDERS

Chanel’s Legacy, by Dominus
Last 3 Beyers: 80-77-71

◗ Accomplished filly actually is an Iowa-bred, and she made her career debut last summer at Prairie Meadows, finishing third in the Iowa Sorority Stakes.

◗ She’s been off since April 14, when she set the pace and held second in a field of 12, beaten by Ever So Clever, in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park. Chanel’s Legacy was due a break after that start, her fifth race of 2017 and her 10th without a real breather between starts.

◗ Chanel’s Legacy, even at her best, did not quite seem to stay 1 1/16 miles, but her best win, in the $125,000 Martha Washington, came at the same one-mile distance as the Panthers.

◗ Handicappers trying to beat the favorite will note that all of Chanel’s Legacy’s top performances came at Oaklawn. Also, if the filly comes back from her break fresh, she risks getting caught up in a taxing pace with several other pace factors.

Conquest Bandido, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 62-72-72

◗ Kentucky-based filly trained by Wayne Catalano did little running when finishing ninth in the Fantasy, her most recent start, but earlier this year turned in three solid Oaklawn runs over a route of ground.

◗ Her stalking style could play well if most of the pace shows up in the Panthers.

China Grove, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 72-62-77

◗ Comes out of the Grade 2 Eight Belles and won the Wide Country Stakes at Laurel in February, but while she has the talent to contend, China Grove must prove she’s more than a late-running, one-turn horse.

Friend of Liberty, by Dominus
Last 3 Beyers: 76-81-82

◗ Steve Asmussen-trained filly improved considerably from ages 2 to 3 but is drawn poorly in post 10, and none of her 10 races has been longer than 6 1/2 furlongs.