'Other' Dutrow saddles speedball Sherine

BALTIMORE - Up to, including, and following the Kentucky Derby, it has been all Dutrow, all the time. Trainer Rick Dutrow has understandably taken center stage for his handling of Derby winner Big Brown, who on Saturday will attempt to keep his Triple Crown hopes alive in the Preakness Stakes.

On Friday here at Pimlico, though, everyone will be watching big brother. Tony Dutrow, Rick's older brother, will attempt to get a Dutrow parlay started with Sherine, who will be the one to catch in the Grade 2, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

It has been feast or famine for Sherine. When she makes a comfortable lead, she can be difficult to overhaul, as in the Comely Stakes at Aqueduct in her last start. But if she gets significant pressure early, she often fades. In her last five starts, Sherine has won three, and finished fifth and last in the other two.

"I will be most comfortable with Sherine in front," Dutrow said Wednesday morning.

She should be there. Sherine will start from post 3 in the nine-horse field. Maren's Meadow, who breaks just to her inside in the 1 1/8-mile race, also has speed, and might be her lone rival for the lead, what with Bsharpsonata, the probable favorite, expected to stalk from post 5.

Sherine was 13-1 against four rivals in the Comely, but won as though she was 3-5.

"She was doing fantastic," Dutrow said. "She ran very well. She ran fast and kept going. Things did go her way, but she was responsible for it with her speed."

Sherine is coupled in the wagering with Pious Ashley. They are 8-1 on the morning-line set by Pimlico's Frank Carulli.

Carulli has Bsharpsonata at 9-5, based on her outstanding overall record, which includes victories in the Forward Gal and Davona Dale stakes at Gulfstream, and a second-place finish in the Ashland Stakes. She is coming back just two weeks after finishing fifth of 10 in the Kentucky Oaks.

"After the Oaks, that night she was hollering for her feed tub, which told us it didn't take a lot out of her," said Tim Salzman, who trains Bsharpsonata.

Bsharpsonata found herself on the lead in the Kentucky Oaks, but Salzman said he would prefer she sit and pounce this time.

"It was circumstances that she ended up on the lead in the Oaks," Salzman said. "She was drawn outside, and had to be rushed leaving there. No one else wanted the lead. I'd rather she sits second or third."

Maren's Meadow has not raced since a victory on Polytrack in the Bourbonette Stakes at Turfway Park on March 22. Her trainer, Larry Jones, won the Kentucky Oaks with Proud Spell

The Bourbonette was only the second race around two turns for Maren's Meadow, who made her first six starts sprinting. She has never raced beyond a mile.

"She's a great big, leggy filly that is just now starting to get her game together," Jones said. "We thought this would be something that would be very reasonable for her. A Grade 2 here is a respectable spot. We think she's up for it."

Shes All Eltish was a powerful winner of the Bonnie Miss at Gulfstream, making her the only filly in the race with a win at 1 1/8 miles.

- additional reporting by David Grening