Fiftyshadesofgold to skip Prioress, head to Churchill

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Fiftyshadesofgold, beaten a length when fourth in the Grade 1 Test Stakes, will not come back in the Grade 2 Prioress and instead will make her next two starts in Kentucky, trainer Bret Calhoun said.

Calhoun said that Fiftyshadesofgold, who is a multiple graded stakes winner at Churchill, will run next in the Grade 3, $100,000 Dogwood Stakes on Sept. 20 at Churchill Downs rather than the $300,000 Prioress Stakes here Aug. 30.

“She came out of the race really good, and we considered running her back in the Prioress, but I think I’ll wait,” said Calhoun, who was to run Vivian Da Bling here in the Grade 2 Adirondack on Sunday.

Calhoun said the Dogwood would be a steppingstone for Fiftyshadesofgold to the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run at Keeneland on Oct. 18. This fall, Keeneland returns to a dirt track.

At 2, Fiftyshadesofgold won the Debutante, and this year, she won the Grade 3 Eight Belles, both at Churchill.