Molly Morgan in unusual role as favorite for Gardenia

Molly Morgan has been overshadowed by her higher-profile opponents for much of her stakes career, going off at mid-range to longshot odds every time in graded stakes company.

That changes Saturday when she faces eight relatively unaccomplished stakes runners in the Grade 3, $100,000 Gardenia, the lone graded stakes race of the Ellis Park summer meet. Favored at 3-1 odds on the morning line, she figures to drop to 2-1 or less by post time.

That is in stark contrast to last year’s Gardenia, where she was dismissed at 50-1 and ran fourth behind Devious Intent, Magic Hour, and comebacking champion Groupie Doll.

The odds difference Saturday isn’t solely related to her relatively soft opposition – led by Quiet Success, Frivolous, and Ocean Bertie. It also is a reflection of her current form; 2014 has been a good year for the late-developing Molly Morgan, who ran second in the Grade 1 La Troienne and won the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs before finishing fifth most recently in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap on July 12.

Although the latter race did not result in one of her better finishes, never had she faced a field of that caliber, one that included Princess of Sylmar, who unsuccessfully chased upsetter Belle Gallantey, who stole the race on the lead.

Dale Romans trains Molly Morgan, a 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper, for owner Bill Cubbedge.

There is a possibility for an off track in the Gardenia. As of midday Thursday, the National Weather Service was forecasting cloudy skies Saturday with a 40 percent chance of showers and a high temperature of 85 degrees. Rain was expected Friday.

Key Contenders

Molly Morgan (Last 3 Beyers: 87-97-89)

* Loses regular jockey Corey Lanerie, who is riding at Saratoga this summer, but is reunited with Jesus Castanon, who rode her to an allowance win last November.

* The lone graded stakes winner and tops the field with $390,739 in earnings.

Quiet Success (Last 3 Beyers: 84-86-84)

* First or second in all four starts this year, she is among the most consistent and speedy entrants.

* Per Formulator statistics, trainer Tom Amoss and jockey Leandro Goncalves have teamed to win 33 percent of their starts together over the past year, with a $1.98 return on investment.

Ocean Bertie (Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-85)

* A rich claim by trainer Bret Calhoun for $62,500 from an optional-claiming race at Churchill Downs on June 26, a race in which she was a close second, she has been on the board in 10 of 13 races on dirt while matched vs. easier.