Fairyland on familiar path for Ward in Colleen Stakes

Trainer Wesley Ward will try to follow a familiar script when he sends out 5-2 morning-line favorite Fairyland in Saturday’s $60,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The Colleen, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-old fillies, is the 10th of 11 races on the card.

Fairyland, who won her maiden on dirt at Churchill Downs in her career debut, makes her first start since returning from England, where she was off the board in her initial try on grass. That sounds very much like the path Ward took last year with Ruby Notion, who won the Colleen in her third career try after a win on the main track and an off-the-board finish at Royal Ascot.

Fairyland, who will be ridden by Albin Jimenez for the first time, adds blinkers and breaks from post 2 in the Colleen.

Ward also will saddle Zodacious. The daughter of Bodemeister was well off the board in the Astoria Stakes last time, but given her connections, she has a license to improve in her turf debut. Julio Garcia rides from post 9.

Trainer John Stephens also entered a pair of fillies, City Success and Brexit Revenge, in the Colleen, which drew nine entrants. City Success beat Brexit Revenge in their career debuts July 15, a race that produced a third Colleen entrant in Rachel’s Smokin. But Stephens is likely to be represented in the Colleen solely by City Success, who ran into traffic trouble at the start and later at the half mile pole in that initial start.

“Brexit Revenge has more of a smaller build, and I think the dirt may suit her better,” said Stephens.

Jockey Jose Ferrer was named on both Brexit Revenge and City Success.

There are several established speeds in the field, including Little Dipper and Bronx Beauty, two fillies coming off debut wins on dirt, and Beaux Arts, exiting a grass win against New York-bred maidens at Saratoga.

That could favor closers, and though the Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Miz Mayhem won her maiden on the lead last time out, she rated some in two prior starts. Further, as a full sister to Flay Mignon, who won the 2013 Colleen for Plesa, she has pedigree and connections credentials.

Post time for the Colleen is 5:20 p.m. Eastern.