Little Silver attracts a diverse crowd

OCEANPORT, N.J. – They are arriving from all points for the surprisingly deep and competitive Little Silver Stakes at Monmouth Park. The $60,000 feature Saturday for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf attracted an international field of 11.

The lineup includes American Girl and My Jolie, a pair of Irish-bred fillies making their U.S. debuts.

Saintly Joan, a recent addition to the Pat McBurney barn, just arrived from California.

A stakes at Monmouth wouldn’t be complete without at least one shipper from New York. This time, it is Courtesan for trainer Christophe Clement, still basking in the afterglow of Tonalist’s upset last weekend in the Belmont Stakes.

Charlie Renee, Swiss Army Wife, and Brown Rice will head here from their home bases in Maryland.

It should be a solid contest if the weather cooperates and the race remains on the grass. While rain was in the forecast for Friday, Saturday should be a bright, sunny afternoon on the Jersey Shore.

American Girl is the latest in a long line of European imports for trainer Alan Goldberg and owner Richard Santulli. The winner of her lone start in Ireland back in February, American Girl adds Lasix.

Team Valor International also has a sharp eye for spotting European talent. My Jolie was 1 for 4 in Italy and France, finishing sixth last month in a Group 3 stakes. She now resides at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland with trainer Rick Mettee.

Saintly Joan, a homebred for Steven Bajer, Dustin O’Hara, and Gem Inc., makes her first start outside California. She faced high-level competition in graded stakes, compiling a record of 2 for 8.

Former trainer John O’Hara, a onetime assistant to McBurney and John Forbes, had a feeling that Saintly Joan would benefit from a change in venue.

“She shipped in here a couple of weeks ago,” McBurney said. “She’s a big, nice-looking filly. John O’Hara thought she didn’t love the downhill turf course [at Santa Anita]. The thinking is out here, there are more opportunities and some easier racing with all the tracks around here.”

Only two fillies in the field have run over the course: Super Sky and Money for Maria, finishing one-two in a first-level allowance last month, with Super Sky prevailing by three- quarters of a length.

Legal Laura and Maggies Applause, both trained by Kathleen O’Connell but uncoupled in the wagering, complete the field.