East's top three fillies clash in Acorn
ELMONT, N.Y. – If Songbird were in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park on Saturday, the leaders of the 3-year-old filly division would all be in attendance.
But as it stands, the undefeated Songbird is just nearing a return to the races after coming down with a fever in mid-April. That leaves Cathryn Sophia, Carina Mia, and Go Maggie Go, the best fillies in the East, to duke it out at a one-turn mile for a purse of $700,000.
Cathryn Sophia is 5 for 6 for trainer John Servis, with her only loss a close third-place finish in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland. She came back to win the Kentucky Oaks in her most recent start May 6.
Despite Cathryn Sophia racing six times in seven months since beginning her career with a maiden win at Parx Racing, Servis is pleased with how the filly is holding her condition.
“Are you kidding? She put weight on between the Ashland and the Oaks,” he said. “She’s doing great.”
Carina Mia is 3 for 5 for Bill Mott. She set the pace in the Ashland while making her season debut but flattened out to finish fourth, two lengths behind Cathryn Sophia. She was explosive in winning the seven-furlong Eight Belles Stakes on the Kentucky Oaks undercard.
Away a bit slowly and in traffic early in the Eight Belles, Carina Mia made a wide move on the far turn that carried her way clear of the field before jockey Julien Leparoux geared her down late.
“She showed a dimension we hadn’t seen previously,” Mott said. “We now know she doesn’t need the lead.”
Go Maggie Go is 3 for 4 for Dale Romans. She was steadied at the start of the Kentucky Oaks, raced in traffic, and then was floated outward in the stretch. She finished fourth, beaten three lengths by Cathryn Sophia but only a neck for second. Go Maggie Go went to the lead in the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan Stakes three weeks ago and scored a determined 2 1/2-length victory.
“She’s special,” Romans said. “The Acorn is a really hot race, and you could see a champion come out of there.”
In the Acorn, Cathryn Sophia and Go Maggie Go will be cutting back in distance and to one turn, while Carina Mia will be stretching out a furlong, which seems well within her reach.
Still, the Acorn goes through Cathryn Sophia, who was content to track the pace in the Oaks before punching home to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
Cathryn Sophia has worked twice at Monmouth Park since the Oaks, including an eye-catching five-furlong breeze on June 1. Calm as a stable pony at the barn, on the way to the track, and while making her way to the five-furlong pole, she suddenly took off like a shot and sped five furlongs in 58.40 seconds. The move was 2.6 seconds faster than the next-quickest at the distance.
“That filly, she can run,” said Paco Lopez, who has now worked Cathryn Sophia three times. “She made my day.”
Javier Castellano has the mount Saturday.
Carina Mia and Cathryn Sophia look like the quickest of the six Acorn entrants, with Cathryn Sophia possibly stalking from post 5. Go Maggie Go seems likely to settle a few lengths back.
When this talented threesome hits the stretch, things should get really interesting really quick.
The other entrants are Forever Darling, trained Richard Baltas; Off the Tracks, Todd Pletcher; and Paola Queen, Gustavo Delgado.
Acorn Stakes, Race 3
Key contenders
Cathryn Sophia, by Street Boss
Last 3 Beyers: 95-91-98
◗ Servis plans to freshen her after the Acorn and then map out a plan to get her to the Grade 1 Cotillion at his home base of Parx in September.
Carina Mia, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 93-88-88
◗ Carina Mia began her season in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland in April, but that was not the original plan. She was being pointed to the Grade 2 Davona Dale in late February but “had some mucus,” according to Mott, and had to skip that race. Carina Mia then was forced to miss the Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 12 due to an equine herpesvirus quarantine at Payson Park.
“We didn’t get a race before the Ashland,” Mott said. “But that’s behind us. She’s doing well, training well.”
◗ The Eight Belles was her first start on the anti-bleeding medication Lasix.
Go Maggie Go, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 86-90-88
◗ She has won at six furlongs, 1 1/16 miles, and 1 1/8 miles. The turnback in distance should not be a problem for her.