Momentous has waited to find the right spot

As Henry Cochran sought a spot for Momentous to earn her first stakes win, the trainer thought seriously about the Falls City Handicap last month at Churchill Downs.

"Then it came up Breeders' Cup II," said Cochran, referring to a race that drew six Grade 1 winners.

Duly thwarted, Cochran awaited a more reasonable spot for Momentous, a talented 3-year-old Summer Squall filly owned by Gainsborough Farm. Momentous will rank among the top contenders Saturday in the $50,000 My Charmer Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

"She's really come to hand," said Cochran, speaking Thursday from Fair Grounds, where most of his stable is now based. "She's training brilliantly. We're hoping for that black type Saturday."

Momentous, who drew post 2 with Jon Court to ride, has won four races and over $162,000 in a 13-race career, with all of her wins coming in wire-to-wire fashion. Cochran said that although the Turfway surface should play to her style, "she doesn't have to have the lead to win," he said. "She's a gutsy filly."

A full field of 12 fillies and mares has been entered in the 1 1/16-mile My Charmer, second of five stakes to be run at Turfway's holiday meet, which runs through Dec. 31. Miss Pickums, a Grade 2 winner last fall, clearly is the top challenger, having had two tighteners since an eight-month layoff. Fringe contenders include the defending champion, Fast Delivery, and recent allowance winners Donnaree, Minister's Baby, and Silent Stream.

The My Charmer is named for the Poker mare who in 1974 produced the great Seattle Slew. The race dates to 1980, with Alcovy (1995) probably the most accomplished winner.