My Miss Sophia bypasses CCA Oaks for Test
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When the connections of Untapable decided to face males in the $1 million Haskell Invitational, My Miss Sophia, runner-up to Untapable in the Kentucky Oaks, figured to inherit the role of favorite for the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.
Only thing is, My Miss Sophia was not entered Thursday for Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.
Trainer Todd Pletcher decided to point My Miss Sophia to the Grade 1 Test, a seven-furlong race here on Aug. 2. and entered only Stopchargingmaria, winner of the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes in her last start.
Via text, Pletcher wrote that he’s “not sure” whether My Miss Sophia is better around one turn, but that he likes the extra time to the Test.
My Miss Sophia won her maiden by 11 1/2 lengths going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream in March. She won the Grade 2 Gazelle going 1 1/8 miles around two turns on April 5. Most recently, she finished seventh as the 4-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Acorn, a one-turn mile race at Belmont.
Stopchargingmaria, whom Pletcher trains for owner Mike Repole, could inherit the favorite’s role in the Coaching Club, run at 1 1/8 miles. Stopchargingmaria, won her debut on opening day of the Saratoga meet last summer, and is a three-time graded stakes winner. She was quite game running down Vero Amore in the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico.
Stopchargingmaria will break from post 1 under Javier Castellano.
Unbridled Forever is the only other stakes winner in the Coaching Club field. She won the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds in January before running third to Untapable in the Fair Grounds Oaks and Kentucky Oaks. Most recently, she finished third in the Grade 1 Acorn.
“Our filly’s done well since the Acorn,” said Dallas Stewart, trainer of Unbridled Forever. “She’s maturing, had a good race. We’re looking forward to running,”
Unbridled Forever drew post 2 and will be ridden by Joel Rosario.
Trainer Bill Mott will send out the uncoupled entry of Miss Besilu and America in the CCA Oaks. America ran third in the Mother Goose, while Miss Besilu, a $2.6 million weanling purchase, finished second in an allowance race last out.
The improving Taketheodds, a daughter of Street Sense, has won her last two starts and will try two turns for the first time in the Coaching Club. Brian Hernandez rides.
Courageous Julie, a first-level allowance winner last out, completes the field.
The CCA Oaks will be part of the Jockey Club Tour on Fox broadcast from 5:30-7:30 p.m., which will also include the Eddie Read Stakes from Del Mar.