Divine Miss Grey targets repeat bid in Heavenly Prize

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Divine Miss Grey, a five-time stakes winner in 2018, is nearing her first workout of the year as she prepares for her 5-year-old season, which is likely to start in the $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct on March 10. Divine Miss Grey won last year’s Heavenly Prize by 6 3/4 lengths.

“That’s probably the most likely spot for her to run,” trainer Danny Gargan said.

Gargan said he would like to get a Grade 1 victory for Divine Miss Grey this year since she is already a Grade 2 winner, having taken the Chilukki at Churchill Downs last Nov. 3. Gargan said that at the very least he would like to see Divine Miss Grey reach the $1 million mark in earnings. The daughter of Divine Park has earned $846,872, having won 11 of 23 starts.

Gargan hopes to have another stakes-winning filly in his barn in Miss Marilyn. The daughter of Bellamy Road won a one-mile maiden race in her second start and is pointing to the $100,000 Busanda on Feb. 3. On Friday, Miss Marilyn worked a half-mile in 52.59 seconds over the Belmont training track.

◗ Starting Friday, first post at Aqueduct will be 12:50 p.m. Eastern, regardless of whether there is an eight-race card or a nine-race card. First post had been 12:25 when there were nine races.