Judy the Beauty: Champ returns in Humana Distaff
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Judy the Beauty’s quest to defend her title as the filly and mare sprint champion begins Saturday at Churchill Downs in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff.
Judy the Beauty will face seven rivals in her 2015 debut while making her first start since sewing up divisional honors with a head decision over Better Lucky in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Judy the Beauty, a 6-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper owned and trained by Wesley Ward, finished fourth in this seven-furlong race last year, her only setback in five 2014 starts.
“I always get a little more nervous and a little more excited than normal when she runs,” Ward said. “She’s doing tremendous. I think I might have run her too close off her victory in the Madison when I brought her here last year.”
Dame Dorothy turns back in distance after finishing a well-beaten second going 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita in her last start. Dame Dorothy has won both her starts at seven furlongs, including the restricted Sunshine Millions Distaff Sprint earlier this winter at Gulfstream Park.
“She’s been training really well, and we’re just trying to get that Grade 1 and felt like this might be the right spot,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who also has Sweet Whiskey entered in the race.
Sweet Reason, like Judy the Beauty, has not started since the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She finished eighth in that race, her only poor performance of the year. Trained by Leah Gyarmati, Sweet Reason won the Grade 1 Acorn and Grade 1 Test last year at 3 and captured the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga as a 2-year-old.
“She worked really well here the other day,” Gyarmati said.
Completing the field are Thank You Marylou, third in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint; Clearly Confused, You Bought Her, and Moonlight Stroll.
KEY CONTENDERS
Judy the Beauty (Last 3 Beyers: 95-95-82)
◗ She returned from a four-month layoff to win the Grade 3 Las Flores to kick off her championship season, although that race was at six furlongs, rather than the seven furlongs of Saturday’s race.
Dame Dorothy (Last 3 Beyers: 87-91-80)
◗ She became Grade 1 placed for the first time in her last start, but has to pick up her game from a Beyer standpoint to compete here.
◗ She gave every indication she’s primed for a big effort by working five furlongs in 59.20 seconds, doing it easily at Palm Beach Downs on April 18.
Sweet Reason (Last 3 Beyers: 76-92-93)
◗ Gyarmati said her filly had some excuses in the Breeders’ Cup when well beaten by Judy the Beauty. “She missed 10 days of training due to an eye injury suffered after the Cotillion, and I think she was also a little too close to a very fast pace that day.”