Emerald Necklace Stakes a puzzle

There are nine Ohio-accredited 2-year-old fillies entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Emerald Necklace Stakes going six furlongs at Thistledown. Each is looking for her first stakes victory – and most are also looking for their first victory, period. Pure Justice and Mandi’s Pride stand out as the only two winners in the group.

Pure Justice, who is owned and trained by R. Gary Patrick, broke through in her third start, romping to a 15 3/4-length maiden victory at Belterra Park. Off that, she springboarded into the deep end of the division’s stakes, finishing sixth in the $150,000 John W. Galbreath Memorial Stakes on the Best of Ohio Day. Edgar Paucar, aboard for all the filly’s starts, retains the mount.

Mandi’s Pride comes off a 3 1/4-length debut victory at Belterra under Perry Ouzts for trainer Gary Smith.

The maidens in the field are led by Birdacious, who finished second to Pure Justice and then Mandi’s Pride in her two outings.

Linda N Michelle is still a maiden after five starts, all for trainer Tim Hamm, who bred and co-owns the filly in the name of his Blazing Meadows Farm. Linda N Michelle is by prominent Ohio sire Parents’ Reward and is from the female family of multiple Grade 1 winner Shaman Ghost. Circle Will Run and Way Back When also come in as maidens.

The field also includes debut starters Jigs a Rollin, No Truer, and Silky Tassels. No Truer, who has posted sharp recent works at Thistledown for owner and trainer Michael Rone, is a full sister to multiple stakes winner True Cinder. Rone also campaigns that filly, who finished second in the Emerald Necklace last year before ripping off a six-race win streak that included four stakes this season.