Lenatareese may not have to work so hard

Fifth with a furlong remaining in a turf allowance July 5 at Churchill Downs, Lenatareese seemed a beaten filly, but was not. A powerful turn of foot through the stretch brought her from fifth to first, and she won by a length under a hand ride.

Less than four weeks later, she is in seemingly a better situation in Saturday's $75,000 Audubon Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Ellis Park.

Favorably drawn in post 5 in the 12-horse field, Lenatareese may not have to rely on late heroics to win the Audubon Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile race on turf. She has a 5-3-0-1 record, and her two wins in dirt sprints indicate she has the tactical speed to remain in touch with the leaders.

Lenatareese did not get such an opportunity when making her turf debut July 5. Squeezed back behind slow early fractions of 49.28 seconds and 1:13.80 in her turf debut, Lenatareese and jockey Brice Blanc had little choice but to fall into last behind the slow early pace.

Once free in the stretch, Lenatareese quickened powerfully, making up 5 3/4 lengths over a final quarter-mile in 24 seconds. Lenatareese, a daughter of Broad Brush, ran a mile in 1:38.70, earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

"She's a small filly, but very well balanced, well made, and athletic," said trainer David Carroll, who won last Saturday's Don Bernhardt Stakes at Ellis Park with Fire Slam.

Lenatareese's first stakes opportunity comes Saturday against a deep but relatively unaccomplished group. Most of her opponents are minor stakes runners or fillies still eligible for first- or second-level allowance races. Blanc rides for owner Brad Anderson.

Josh's Madelyn, a daughter of Quiet American, has raced solely on dirt over her 11-race career. She is out of the mare Intend to Win, who was unplaced in two turf starts.

A winner of four of six races in 2004, Josh's Madelyn comes off an uncharacteristically poor effort when seventh in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks on July 2. Her poor showing was the result of her fighting with jockey Tim Doocy, trainer Larry Jones said. Justin Shepherd rides.

Other notable starters, both stuck on the outside, include Bright and Shiny, a half-length winner of an entry-level turf allowance at Churchill, and Pretty Jane, who romped by 4 1/4 lengths over fellow Audubon Oaks starter Victoire Bataille in an allowance at Ellis Park on July 7.