Fillies seek to replicate foreign success

Two fillies good enough to win at the Group 1 and Group 2 levels overseas but yet to finish first in the United States will try to regain their foreign form in Saturday's John Rooney Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park.

Eres Magica, who defeated 16 opponents to capture the Group 1 Chilean Derby in her final start of 2006, and Time On, a Group 2 winner in France last summer, will face seven other fillies and mares in the 1 1/8-mile Rooney on turf.

Of the two, Time On has been more impressive in North America. She closely tracked the leader until the deep stretch of the Grade 3, 1 1/2-mile Orchid Handicap at Gulfstream Park in late March, finishing fourth and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 93. She earned a 92 Beyer with a fourth-place finish the Destiny Dancer at Belmont Park on May 3.

Hostess finished third in the Destiny Dancer, beating Time On by just 2 1/2 lengths, and she returned to finish third in last weekend's Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Handicap.

Based on the two-year statistics of her trainer, Christophe Clement, Time On may be approaching a peak performance. Clement has gone 7 for 29 with filly and mare turf runners making their third start following a layoff during that time period.

Eres Magica has had only one start since coming to Michael Matz's barn. She was competitive for much of a nine-furlong allowance at Keeneland in April before backing up to beat just one horse. Matz, off to a good start at Delaware's meet with 6 wins from his first 17 starters, prepped Eres Magica for this spot by having her work a bullet five furlongs in 1:02 at the Fair Hill Training Center.

Two sharp horses stepping up in class, Rosinka and Palmilla, merit consideration.

Rosinka, from the top barn of Graham Motion, comes off a win over Polytrack at Keeneland, but runners who have come out of that race are a combined 0 for 7.

Palmilla, coupled as a Jonathan Sheppard-trained entry with Omeya, just missed in a second-level allowance two weeks ago. Sheppard is 5 for 14 with female turf runners coming back in 14 days or less since 2006.