Martini Glass escapes shadow of Songbird in Lady Jacqueline Stakes

One could be forgiven for doing a double take but, yes, the name Songbird does appear in the program for Saturday’s card at Thistledown.

Martini Glass, who gave the two-time Eclipse Award champion a tussle in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap last month, looks to continue what has been an outstanding season in the $200,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes for fillies and mares.

Martini Glass stalked Songbird in second throughout the Delaware Handicap, drawing as close as a half-length with a quarter-mile remaining before the champion edged away to win by a length. It was the first try against graded company for Martini Glass, who won an optional claimer and two starter allowances at Tampa Bay to open the season before finishing second by a neck in the Obeah Stakes, the prep for the Delaware Handicap.

Jose Ferrer, aboard Martini Glass at Delaware, retains the mount for trainer Keith Nations.

Facing fillies other than Songbird could definitely be considered class relief, but Money’soncharlotte, trained by Kelly Breen, comes in having won three straight races. Her streak includes victories in the Lady’s Secret and Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth. Paco Lopez is in the irons Saturday.

Divine Elegance finished third in the Grade 3 Matron Stakes at Churchill Downs earlier this year, but must rebound after finishing sixth in the Iowa Distaff at Prairie Meadows. The field also includes Grade 2-placed stakes winner Mo d’Amour.

In addition to the open-company Lady Jacqueline, Saturday’s eight-race card at Thistledown also includes the $75,000 Pay the Man Stakes for Ohio-bred fillies and mares. The formidable Justalittlesmoke is looking to keep rolling in the 1 1/16-mile stakes against some challengers who are in career-best form.

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Justalittlesmoke, who runs for the team of Mast Thoroughbreds, trainer Robert Gorham, and jockey Terry Houghton, has not started since rolling to a 7 3/4-length repeat victory in the J. William Petro Memorial Handicap on June 24 at Thistledown. The mare has won her three starts this year by a combined 17 1/2 lengths and has won 8 of her last 9 outings overall. The only loss in that span was by a nose against males in the 2016 Best of Ohio Sprint. Justalittlesmoke has never been off the board in 23 career starts.

The streaking Mayas Queen Neetee and the resurgent Nikki My Darling highlight a trio of entries in the Pay the Man for owner Ron Paolucci and trainer Jeffrey Radosevich. Nikki My Darling is cross-entered in the Lady Jacqueline.

Mayas Queen Neetee has won all four of her races since coming to Radosevich from Florida, including a three-length victory in the Vivacious Handicap on the Belterra Park turf, her stakes debut. Nikki My Darling finished sixth in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont in June and rebounded for a 6 1/2-length win in the Norm Barron Queen City Oaks at Belterra, establishing a track record for 1 1/8 miles.