Mrs McDougal lives up to expectations

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Chad Brown already has the top 3-year-old turf filly in the country, the undefeated Breeders’ Cup winner Lady Eli. On Wednesday here, Brown unveiled another 3-year-old filly prospect, Mrs McDougal, who won her career debut by three lengths as the even-money choice going 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Mrs McDougal is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the three-time stakes winner Distorted Passion. She is owned by William K. Warren Jr.

“She was forced to race wide – no fault of the rider – the pace was slow, and she had just enough speed to get herself in a little bit of trouble parked out there,” said Brown, a finalist for the Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer of 2014. “For a first-time starter to give up some fitness and racing experience and go the overland route from gate to wire, I thought she was very impressive to be able to overcome all that.”

Brown said Mrs McDougal had impressed him working at Saratoga last summer, but he had to stop on her because she bucked shins.

“Every breeze had been great since she returned to my barn, and I expected a big race out of her on Wednesday,” Brown said.

Brown said he’ll likely target the Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7 for Mrs McDougal’s next start.