Miss Ella shortens up for Caress Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Graham Motion is a little betwixt and between when it comes to his graded-stakes-winning filly Miss Ella – not sure exactly what her best distance is on turf.

Motion should have a better read by late Sunday afternoon at Saratoga after Miss Ella turns back to 5 1/2 furlongs for the $100,000 Caress Stakes. The Caress drew a well-matched field of 10 fillies and mares for turf, along with Fusaichi Red, who was entered for the main track only.

Miss Ella shortens to 5 1/2 furlongs on turf for the first time since her fifth-place finish in Keeneland’s Giant’s Causeway on April 16. In her only other start at the distance, Miss Ella was second behind the odds-on Lady Shipman here last summer in the Coronation Cup. She is coming off a pair of seven-furlong tries which include a third-place finish in the Intercontinental last month at Belmont Park.

“I’m still struggling to figure out what she wants to do,” said Motion, who is off to a good start at the meet. “It doesn’t seem natural she should be a sprinter, but her previous race at this distance was decent and she ran pretty well against Lady Shipman here last year. If she can run back to those races, she’ll be tough. A little pace would help, and if she runs well on Sunday, this is where we’ll probably wind up keeping her.”

Richies Sweetheart looks like the one to catch. The speedy Richies Sweetheart knows her way around the winner’s circle, having captured 14 of her 30 starts, including four stakes. She won her only previous start over the local course, wiring a field of allowance rivals going 5 1/2 furlongs two years ago.

Other stakes winners in the field include Harp N Halo, who captured an allowance race around two turns here last summer; Old Harbor, who seems best at distances of seven furlongs or more; and Disco Barbie, Miss Matzoball, and Joya Real.

Old Harbor finished third in the 2015 Caress, turning in an even effort while beaten 4 1/4 lengths by winner Thieves Guild.

Rumble Doll has yet to win a stakes, but she’s in top form, coming off a second-place finish in the Intercontinental, a half-length in front of Miss Ella.

Caress, Race 10

KEY CONTENDERS

Miss Ella, by Exchange Rate

Last 3 Beyers: 84-91-88

◗ She will reunite with jockey Joel Rosario, who guided her to her most recent stakes win last fall at Belmont Park.

Richies Sweetheart, by Bring the Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 55-50-97

◗ Well-traveled mare will have to rebound from a pair of subpar performances as the beaten favorite, although she had an excuse last time. She hit the gate at the break and got forced wide as the 6-5 choice in defense of her title in the Brandywine at Indiana Grand.

Rumble Doll, by Street Boss

Last 3 Beyers 92-87-86

◗ She loves the local course, having posted two wins and two thirds in four starts here.