Kareena inherits role of favorite in Jersey Girl
ELMONT, N.Y. – What she lacks in experience Kareena may make up for in sheer talent as the likely favorite in Friday’s $150,000 Jersey Girl Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.
The complexion of the six-furlong Jersey Girl took a major turn Wednesday when Off the Tracks, who figured to be the favorite, was entered for Saturday’s Grade 1 Acorn. By house rule, that means the Grade 3 winner must scratch from the Jersey Girl.
Kareena, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the multiple graded stakes winner India, has started just twice. She earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure when finishing second behind the still-undefeated Lightstream while launching her career last winter at Gulfstream Park. She was an extremely impressive five-length maiden winner while racing on Lasix for the first time in her only other start five weeks later at Keeneland.
“I thought she ran great in both her starts,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains Kareena for Godolphin. “She ran into a monster going seven-eighths the first time and bled a little bit, which is why she came back on Lasix, and she turned in another big effort. We gave her time off after that because we were pointing for this race, hoping she’ll be our Test filly this summer at Saratoga.”
Kareena’s competition includes One True Kiss, Quick Release, and She’s All Ready, who finished second through fourth behind Lost Raven in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness; the graded stakes-placed Blip n' Th Bye; and Appealing Maggie, who comes into her stakes debut off a pair of front-running victories at Aqueduct.
One True Kiss rallied from far back, more than a dozen lengths off the pacesetting Quick Release, to finish second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner, in the Miss Preakness.
The Grade 1-placed She’s All Ready failed to show the speed that has been her best asset in the Miss Preakness, racing in midpack early before finishing a nonthreatening fourth.
The steadily improving Blip n’ The Bye finished a distant second behind the heavily favored Carina Mia in the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs, earning a career-best 81 Beyer in just her second start since being transferred to trainer Al Stall Jr. earlier this year.
Jersey Girl, Race 5
KEY CONTENDERS
Kareena, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 2 Beyers: 84-98
◗ McLaughlin said the pace of the race is his biggest concern. “There’s a lot of other speed in the field, but we’re outside, so hopefully we’ll be able to see what’s going on.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Kareena. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 27-8-8-4 with a $2.71 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints with last-out maiden winners less than 45 days since the last start. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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One True Kiss, by Warrior’s Reward
Last 3 Beyers: 78-74-61
◗ Stretch-running filly comes off a career-best performance in the Miss Preakness and is likely to catch plenty of pace to run at again, considering the makeup of the Jersey Girl lineup.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Off the Tracks. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 22-1-4-5 with a $0.13 ROI over the past two years going route to sprint on dirt following a layoff of between 61 and 180 days. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan