Majestic Glory has the credentials to contend in Pebbles Stakes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Based on the company she’s kept in England, a progressive work tab, and her Hall of Fame connections, Majestic Glory is worthy of strong consideration in a seemingly wide-open renewal of Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Pebbles Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.
The Pebbles, run at a mile, is named for the champion turf filly who won the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Aqueduct.
Majestic Glory, a daughter of Frankel now in the care of trainer Todd Pletcher, went 2 for 8 in England, where she was trained by Andrew Balding. At 2, she won a Group 3 at Newmarket, defeating Wild Beauty, who came back to win the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine last fall. This year, Majestic Glory finished a close third behind Wild Beauty and Jumbly in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes. Jumbly came back to win a Group 3 at Ascot in July.
Majestic Glory spent the bulk of the summer at Belmont under the tutelage of assistant trainer Byron Hughes.
“She seemed to be straightforward, came to us in good condition,” Hughes said. “Her breezes got progressively better, then Todd shipped her up to Saratoga to breeze her on the turf and I assume that went well enough to run her.”
In her turf breeze at Saratoga, Majestic Glory worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds, in company with Wasp, the fastest of 49 works at the distance.
Majestic Glory breaks from the rail under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, a five-time winner of the Pebbles.
Pletcher also sends A Mo Reay, a late-running third in the Riskaverse Stakes at Saratoga in her turf debut.
Chad Brown ran 1-2 in the Riskaverse, with Gina Romantica, a 14-1 shot, beating Faith in Humanity, a 19-1 shot. Brown sends out those two fillies as well as recent allowance winner Bahamian Club as he seeks a fifth win in this race, all since 2015.
Gina Romantica, a $1.025 million yearling purchase, was making her turf debut in the Riskaverse and rallied from 10 lengths back to get the win.
“She showed a good turn of foot through the lane there to get up. I was very impressed,” Brown said.
Gina Romatica will have to overcome post 12 under Flavien Prat.
Faith in Humanity had won her debut on turf at Monmouth in July, which led Brown to try her in the Riskaverse.
“She ran a good number in her debut, so we took a shot and she ran well,” Brown said. “She got a really good ride and trip, though.”
Bahamian Club is coming off a first-level allowance win following a disappointing effort in the same condition at Belmont in June.
Trainer Christophe Clement entered both Lia Marina and Breeze Easy in the Pebbles. Lia Marina won the Wait a While Stakes around two turns at Gulfstream in December before finishing sixth to Spendarella in the Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream in March. Clement said Lia Marina came out of that race sore, necessitating 60 days off.
Breeze Easy was fifth in the Galway Stakes sprinting at Saratoga.
“She had a great trip and did not fire,” Clement said. “I don’t know why.”
Dylan Davis rides Lia Marina from post 6, while Javier Castellano pilots Breeze Easy from post 7.
Golden Rocket, Howdyoumakeurmoney, Miss Carol Ann, Sail By, and Saratoga Chrome complete the body of the field. Wonka would need a scratch to get in from the also-eligible list.