Miss Brazil will test speed in Busher Invitational

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Miss Brazil, dominant winner of Monday’s $100,000 Ruthless Stakes, will stretch out an additional furlong in the $250,000 Busher Invitational going a mile March 6.

In her first start since a maiden victory on Nov. 29, Miss Brazil beat just two rivals in the seven-furlong Ruthless, making the lead soon after the start under Eric Cancel, putting aside two modest tests from Dealing Justice and then Gulf Coast, and cruising to a 6 1/2-length victory. She earned a modest 73 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I don’t know if she’ll win the race, but I think the Busher will go similar to the way she ran” Monday, trainer Tony Dutrow said. “She’ll probably be the speed. I don’t think she’ll have a problem stretching out to a mile. We’ll just see if she’s good enough.”

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Dutrow is good friends with fellow trainer Jimmy Jerkens. In the race immediately following the Ruthless, Jerkens sent out the 3-year-old filly Mo Desserts to a 15 1/2-length maiden victory going a mile. It would seem logical the Busher could be next for Mo Desserts as well.

Another filly pointing to the Busher is Laobanonaprayer, the New York-bred who won the Maid of the Mist going a mile last fall. Most recently, she finished second to Secret Love in the Franklin Square Stakes for statebreds on Jan. 16 at Aqueduct.

“I’m excited to see her in open company, see if she can handle it and hopefully get some points going toward the [Kentucky] Oaks,” trainer Daniel Velazquez said.

The Busher’s top four finishers earn points toward the Oaks on a 50-20-10-5 basis.