Curlin's Fox targets Autumn Miss Stakes

Curlin’s Fox, the winner of Friday’s 87,400 Sandy Blue Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf, will be pointed for the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 17, trainer Carla Gaines said on Saturday.

Curlin’s Fox has struggled with incidents of bleeding from the lungs in the past but was not troubled in the Sandy Blue, her first stakes win. Curlin’s Fox set the pace under jockey Mike Smith and pulled clear to win by 4 1/2 lengths over Singing Kitty as the 2-1 second choice in a field of five.

Curlin’s Fox was timed in 1:33.25, a stakes record.

“That’s what we knew was there,” Gaines said. “It’s not a graded stakes, but it’s nice to get her back on track.”

Owned by breeder Warren Williamson, Curlin’s Fox has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $157,690.