Parlay holds stakes advantage in Emerald Necklace

Parlay is the only entrant in the field of seven for Thursday’s $75,000 Emerald Necklace Stakes with a stakes placing – and not only that, she did so against colts. That makes her a big standout in Thistledown’s feature race for Ohio-accredited 2-year-old fillies.

Parlay is trained by Tim Hamm and races for that trainer as a homebred in his prominent partnership with WinStar Farm. Parlay, by “WinBlaze’s” prominent young Buckeye State sire National Flag, won her maiden at second asking, kicking clear by 5 1/4 lengths on the front end Aug. 6 at Thistledown. The second- and third-place finishers, Greek Boutique and Perfect Date, both won their next outings. Parlay then finished a chasing second by two lengths to the unbeaten gelding Just Like Rambo in the Loyalty Stakes on Sept. 20, going the same six furlongs of the Emerald Necklace.

She has posted a Beyer Speed Figure of 48 in each of her last two outings. The only figure in the field that is higher is the 50 earned by her Hamm-trained stablemate Come On Arlene, who was bred by the trainer and races in another partnership for him, with Check Racing and Shane Hamm. Come On Arlene, another daughter of National Flag, won her maiden in her fifth start. She stumbled badly at the start of the Loyalty and never threatened while seventh. A better break would have her on the front end with her stablemate early.

Maiden winner Elopedatthederby, bred, co-owned, and trained by Robert Cline, is the only other member of the field with stakes experience. She was ninth in the Jim Morgan Memorial Tah Dah Stakes for fillies on July 19 at Belterra Park. Maiden winners Moon Event, Perfect Date, and Praise N Glory and the first-time starter I Belong First complete the field.

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