Miss Brazil in good form for Busher Invitational

Trainer Tony Dutrow believes he’ll find out a little more about Miss Brazil when she runs in Saturday’s $250,000 Busher Invitational than he did when she beat two rivals in last month’s Ruthless Stakes. What Dutrow believes he already knows is he’ll see the best of what Miss Brazil has when she tries a mile for the first time in the Busher.

“Physically, mentally, I do not think she could be doing any better,” Dutrow said. “She is ready in every way to show what she is.”

Dutrow spoke Sunday morning after Miss Brazil worked a half-mile in 47.94 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. She worked in company with recent allowance winner Maiden Beauty, and the two had the fastest timed works at the half-mile distance over a training track listed as good. There were 60 workers at the distance.

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Miss Brazil, a daughter of Palace Malice, will be seeking her third straight win in the Busher. After finishing third in her debut on turf last Oct. 25, Miss Brazil switched to the dirt, where she won a maiden race by 2 1/2 lengths going 6 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 29. Following a planned break, Miss Brazil came back on Feb. 8 to win the Ruthless by 6 1/4 lengths, beating just two rivals.

“It was a workout,” Dutrow said. “I’m not disrespecting anybody; they came to her a little bit at the top of the stretch and she opened up. But she’s going to face the best she’s ever faced in the Busher.”

The Busher field is expected to include New York-bred stakes winners Laobanonaprayer and Make Mischief, Busanda Stakes winner The Grass Is Blue, Grade 3 Forward Gal runner-up Lady Traveler, and maiden winners Search Results and Mo Desserts. Baba and Fraudulent Charge, added to the invitee list on Sunday, are possible.

On Sunday, The Grass Is Blue worked a half-mile in 49.46 seconds by herself over the Belmont training track.

The top four finishers in the Busher earn qualifying points (50-20-10-5) toward the Grade 1, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on April 30.