Elysea's World the big dog in Gallorette
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
BALTIMORE – The stars of the female turf division are absent from the Grade 3, $150,000 Gallorette Stakes. However, Elysea’s World has a chance to further flatter one of them and throw her own name into the ring as she takes on a well-matched group Saturday at Pimlico.
Trained by Chad Brown, Elysea’s World won twice from six starts last season and was Grade 2-placed at Saratoga. She began her 2017 campaign by finishing second to Dickinson by 1 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream Park and second by a half-length to that rival in the Grade 2 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Dickinson went on to win the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, edging out multiple Grade 1 winner Lady Eli in a salty field.
“She has two races under her belt, and she’s going really well,” said assistant trainer Jose Hernandez. “We’re happy with her.”
Brown, whose three wins in the Gallorette include the 2012 edition with Zagora during her Eclipse Award-winning campaign, has a formidable string of turf mares led by Lady Eli. Stablemate Roca Rojo won the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, Grade 1 winner Dacita finished second to Hawksmoor in the Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes on yielding turf, and Sea Calisi and Suffused were one-two in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes.
Finishing fifth in the Sheepshead Bay in her first start in six months was Zipessa, a Grade 3 winner last season who runs in the Gallorette. Zipessa bobbled at the start of the Sheepshead Bay but quickly rushed up to lead before tiring on the yielding turf. Trainer Michael Stidham is wheeling her back in two weeks.
On Leave won four consecutive races last year, including the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes. Her win streak was snapped when she checked in fourth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in October at Keeneland behind Time and Motion, Harmonize, and Hawksmoor. She is making her first start since that race, having passed on last week’s Beaugay at her New York base due to the turf condition.
“She’s had a bit of a layoff, but she’s training very well,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “We’re looking forward to getting her started.”
Danilovna came to Graham Motion’s Fair Hill barn last summer from Europe and finished second by a nose in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss at Santa Anita. She began her 2017 campaign by winning the Dahlia Stakes on yielding turf at Laurel Park. Cambodia, based at Fair Hill with Tom Proctor, was third in the Dahlia and returns in the Gallorette. Yet another Fair Hill-based runner in the Gallorette, the Michael Matz-trained Gone Away, took the short van ride to Pimlico to win last year’s Hilltop Stakes.
Elysea’s World, by Champs Elysees
Last 3 Beyers: 99-97-89
◗ Her Hillsborough Beyer Speed Figure of 99 is not only the top last-out number among the entrants but is narrowly the best figure in the field. Zipessa ran a pair of 98s to conclude her 2016 season.
◗ Joel Rosario rides her for the fourth straight race. They drew post 7 in the field of 10.
Zipessa, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 77-98-98
◗ Zipessa, who has Joe Bravo in the irons, drew post 2, ideal for the most consistent pace factor in the field. On Leave wired the field in last year’s Sands Point but also has won from just off the pace.
On Leave, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 91-94-93
◗ Jose Ortiz, who has been aboard for every start of her career, rides from post 6.
◗ She is a half-sister to four graded stakes winners, including Ironicus, who captured the Grade 2 Dixie on this course two years ago.