Dutrow chooses Jersey Girl over Acorn for Miss Brazil
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Tony Dutrow believes Miss Brazil could be effective at a one-turn mile given the right setup. He didn’t see that setup in Saturday’s Grade 1 Acorn Stakes, so he planned to scratch her and run instead in Sunday’s $150,000 Jersey Girl Stakes going six furlongs at Belmont Park.
Miss Brazil, a speed horse, is 3 for 3 in dirt races run at seven furlongs or shorter, including a victory over just two horses in the Ruthless Stakes in February. She ran a game second to Search Results in the one-mile Busher at Aqueduct in March before wining a second-level allowance here April 23.
Search Results, the Kentucky Oaks runner-up, as well as the fast Grade 1 winner Dayoutoftheoffice, were entered in Saturday’s Acorn.
In the Jersey Girl, Miss Brazil, who breaks from post 5 in the six-horse field, meets the undefeated Louisiana-bred stakes winner Australasia, the impressive debut winner Bella Sofia, as well as Decade and Dr B, both of whom have won two straight. Shop Girl rounds out the field.
“She’s the class,” Dutrow said of Miss Brazil. “She drew so well if she has to sit, she can sit. I’m not saying she’s going to win the Jersey Girl, but I’m not worried about her not running well.”
Dutrow said his major target this summer with Miss Brazil is the Grade 1 Test on Aug. 8 at Saratoga. He is hoping to run her Sunday and then in the Grade 3 Victory Ride here July 10.
Dutrow will need to find a rider for Miss Brazil. He named Irad Ortiz Jr., but Ortiz is out two weeks after being injured in a spill here Thursday. He named Javier Castellano in the Acorn, but Castellano is named on Shop Girl in the Jersey Girl.
Australasia has won all five of her starts, four coming against Louisiana-breds. Trainer Brad Cox said there was a Louisiana-bred stakes he passed up to run here, noting an open-company stakes win or placing would increase her value as a broodmare prospect.
Cox said Australasia has been training in company with Travel Column, a multiple graded stakes winner who was entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Acorn.
“She worked well enough, I’m super happy with how she looks, how she’s moving, her flesh, so we thought we need to run,” Cox said.
Butch Reid, who has won two stakes here this meet with the 3-year-old colt Beren, is seeking more stakes success with the 3-year-old filly Dr B. A daughter of Liam’s Map, Dr B finished third in her in debut last December before winning a maiden and a first-level allowance by 9 1/4 and 5 1/4 lengths, respectively, at Parx Racing.
“She ran really greenly first time out, but her last two have been very professional,” Reid said. “She’s got a ton of talent. We gave half a thought to the Acorn, but she got a little sick on us and missed a week or so of training so we thought it best to stick to the three-quarters.”
Frankie Pennington is up from Parx to ride Dr B from post 2.
Bella Sofia couldn’t have been more impressive winning her debut going six furlongs here May 6. She ran six furlongs in 1:09.69 and earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.
Shop Girl is 2 for 4 with runner-up finishes in a pair of listed stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The Jersey Girl goes as race 7 on a nine-race card that begins at 1 p.m.