Denim and Pearls looking sharp in Eight Belles Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brad Cox thought he’d be running Denim and Pearls on the first Friday in May at Churchill Downs. He just thought it would be in the Kentucky Oaks, not the Eight Belles.

But after Denim and Pearls twice failed to see out two turns in stakes at Oaklawn Park, Cox cut Denim and Pearls back to one turn in the Beaumont Stakes last month at Keeneland. Denim and Pearls responded with a dominant 9 1/4-length victory that makes her one of the choices in Friday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Eight Belles going seven furlongs.

“She took me by surprise that she didn’t take to two turns, that’s probably the biggest surprise throughout the winter,” said Cox, noting that Denim and Pearls is a full sister to Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap winner Newgate. “She obviously showed she might be better around one turn.”

Denim and Pearls is 3 for 3 around one turn. Last November, she won a one-mile allowance here going a mile by 3 1/2 lengths. The fourth-place finisher from that race was Tarifa, who Cox will send out as one of the choices in the Kentucky Oaks later on this card.

If Cox has a concern entering the Eight Belles, it would be Denim and Pearls coming back 26 days after earning a gaudy 98 Beyer Speed Figure for the Beaumont.

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“It’s always a little bit of a concern when one runs as fast and receives the figure she received and running back in less than four weeks,” Cox said. “Physically, she looks good. There’s plenty of her. She’s a beautiful physical and if she runs that same race, she’s going to be tough.”

Flavien Prat rides Denim and Pearls from post 7 in a field of 12.

Cox also sends out Impel, who finished third behind Leslie’s Rose in the Grade 1 Ashland, her first loss in three starts. She wasn’t going to make it into the Oaks, so Cox decided to cut her back in this spot. He’s not thrilled with her having to break from the rail.

“She is a handy filly that seems to do whatever the rider needs her to do to get in the position she needs to be in,” Cox said.

Halina’s Forte cuts back to one turn after finishing eighth in the Ashland. Prior to that, she was a good-looking winner of the Ruthless Stakes going seven furlongs at Aqueduct. She beat next-out stakes winner Ghalia Princess in that spot.

Trainer Phil Bauer believes the Eight Belles could set up similarly to the Ruthless, where she came from just off the pace. Jose Ortiz will ride.

“Jose got on her for her last work, and it was visually impressive,” Bauer said. “She’s coming into it the right way.”

R Harper Rose won the Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park in February and was upset as the 1-5 favorite in the Any Limit Stakes when cut back to six furlongs on March 17. She is 2 for 2 at seven furlongs.

“I thought coming back at six furlongs she was basically going to be invincible. She got beat,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “I didn’t train on that much coming into that race because the Eight Belles was the goal and we were just trying to get through that race.”

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Asternia, winner or the Purple Martin Stakes going six furlongs on March 16 at Oaklawn, has twice finished behind Denim and Pearls.

Lady Moscato has gone 2 for 3 since trainer D. Wayne Lukas added blinkers to her equipment. All Things Go, Trial, Accommodate Eva, Do Gooder, Tanya Showers, and My Mane Squeeze complete the field.

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