Montare heads Pomone

The $178,000 Prix de Pomone, a Group 2 for fillies and mares going 1 9/16 miles, has drawn a closely matched field that makes it a more intriguing event than the Group 1, $342,000 Prix Maurice de Gheest on the same Deauville card Sunday.

Montare is returning to female company after three losses to males, most recently a fifth-place finish in the Ascot Gold Cup. She was second in last year's Pomone but can go one better this time with Olivier Peslier aboard.

She faces Freedonia, who beat her in last year's Pomone. Freedonia then finished second in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. She has been unraced, however, since finishing last of 11 in the Group 3 Prix Exbury March 10 behind Pearl Sky, who also goes in the Pomone.

Macleya won the Group 3 Prix Allez France in May, and has since been second to Mandesha in the Group 2 Prix Corrida for Andre Fabre, who also will saddle the lightly raced Kaloura, who is coming off a sharp second in the 1 1/2-mile Group 2 Prix de Malleret.

Marchand d'Or defends his 6 1/2-furlong Maurice de Gheest title against last year's runner-up, Satri, as well as Dutch Art, whose second in the six-furlong Group 1 July Cup makes him the one to beat.