Fillies and mares sprint into spotlight

A pair of five-furlong races - one on the main track for 2-year-old maiden fillies and one on the grass for filly and mare allowance runners - are part of a nine-race card at The Meadowlands on Wednesday evening.

Eight 2-year-old fillies entered the fifth race, which carries the largest purse on the program, $46,000. Five of the runners will make their career debuts in this maiden race.

One of the firsters, Purple Lady Day, is likely to go off the favorite. Purple Lady Day, a well-bred daughter of Rahy, out of the Danzig mare, Sintanous, has been working steadily at Monmouth Park for trainer Ben Perkins Jr., who does extremely well with first-time starters.

Perkins, who finished second in the standings at the recently concluded Monmouth Park meet, has named Eibar Coa, the leading rider at Monmouth, on Purple Lady Day.

Purple Lady Day, who races with Lasix, drew the outside.

Another firster, Majestic Girl, has been working well for trainer Todd Pletcher at Belmont Park. Majestic Girl will be ridden by Aaron Gryder, who rode Say Florida Sandy to victory in last Friday's Paterson Handicap.

Ellie's Quest, Party to Party, Cardtoga Tina, Katie Kreitz, Pronghorn, and Party Jewel complete the field.

The eighth race, a five-furlong grass event for first-level allowance fillies and mares, drew 10, plus two also-eligibles.

Madame Modjeska is a major player while dropping back in distance after finishing sixth in a mile grass race on opening day. In sprints, the filly won a 5 1/2- furlong maiden race and suffered a narrow loss while finishing third in a five-furlong race at this level.

Madame Modjeska is trained by Alan Goldberg, who is winning at a 30 percent clip this year with his runners.

Goldberg named Chuck Lopez to ride Madame Modjeska, who drew post 6.

Peg Rushton is in with a shot after winning a pair of five-furlong turf events in the spring at Garden State Park and Atlantic City Race Course. In her last, Peg Rushton finished third at this level at Philadelphia Park on Aug. 26.

If rain forces the race to the main track, Cocktail Corner is worth a look. The filly set the pace and crossed the finish line in front at this level and distance last month at Monmouth, but was subsequently disqualified from purse money and is therefore still eligible for the condition.

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