Debutante brings together good-looking group of fillies

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – What the $100,000 Debutante Stakes lacks in graded status it makes up for in depth.

In fact, the field for the 117th running of the Debutante on Friday night at Churchill Downs fairly begs the American Graded Stakes Committee to restore a grade to a race packed with 2-year-old fillies with the potential to impact the division as 2017 unfolds.

Sunny Skies, breaking from post 1 under Robby Albarado, will face She’s a Julie, Patrona Margarita, Lady O’Toole, and nine others in the six-furlong Debutante, the eighth of 11 races (post, 9:39 p.m. Eastern). All four are making just the second start of their careers.

Sunny Skies romped by nine lengths going 4 1/2 furlongs in April during the last week of the Keeneland meet.

“The post might be a little tricky, but she’s a talented filly,” said Kenny McPeek, who trains Sunny Skies for Normandy Farm. “We’re looking forward to running her longer at some point, but she’s already shown how fast she is.”

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She’s a Julie (post 6, Florent Geroux), named for the wife of trainer Steve Asmussen, did absolutely nothing wrong in winning by 5 1/4 lengths here May 26. Patrona Margarita (post 7, Chris Landeros) showed a welcomed dimension in rallying from off the pace to win here June 9. And Lady O’Toole (post 11, Corey Lanerie) looked terrific in a maiden romp here two Fridays ago.

Lady O’Toole “breezed great Monday,” said trainer Brad Cox.

“We’re looking forward to running her back,” he said.

The Debutante was a Grade 3 event from 1996 to 2011 but has been listed ever since. Among its winners were such standouts as Alcibiades (1929), Bewitch (1947), Hollywood Wildcat (1992), and Silverbulletday (1998). The 2016 winner was Pretty City Dancer for trainer Mark Casse.

The Debutante and the $70,000 Kelly’s Landing support the Grade 3 Bashford Manor as closing-night features of the 38-day spring meet.

The Kelly’s Landing (race 10, 10:42) has a solid favorite in Limousine Liberal, who “seems like he’s really matured and settled now,” said trainer Ben Colebrook.

“He’s become more versatile,” Colebrook said. “He can make the lead if there’s no pace or sit off it if he needs to.”

As the winner of the Grade 2 Churchill Downs and Grade 3 Aristides earlier in the meet, Limousine Liberal has a rare opportunity to become a three-time stakes winner at a single Churchill meet. Finley’sluckycharm completed her own three-stakes sweep last Saturday in the Chicago Handicap, becoming the first horse since 2004 to pull off that feat.

A full gate of 14 older horses is entered in the seven-furlong Kelly’s Landing. Top challengers include The Player, Recount, Fish Trappe Road, and The Truth Or Else.

KEY CONTENDERS

Debutante

Sunny Skies, by Animal Kingdom

◗ She is the first North American winner for her sire, who won the 2011 Kentucky Derby.

She’s a Julie, by Elusive Quality

Beyer: 68

◗ One of the seemingly unlimited number of fast Asmussen 2-year-olds, this filly was chased home by Pure Praise, who wheeled right back to win here last week.

Kelly’s Landing

Limousine Liberal, by Successful Appeal

Last 3 Beyers: 95-101-94

◗ A record-setter at 6 1/2 furlongs last year at Keeneland, this 5-year-old gelding has become a factor in the national sprint division and goes next in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga.

The Player, by Street Hero

Last 3 Beyers: 91-86-83

◗ Talented 4-year-old colt shows a series of sharp works for trainer Buff Bradley leading up to his first start since a runner-up finish in the Indiana Derby nearly a year ago.