Proctor finds right spot for filly

Tom Proctor reasons that if Aidan's Bella was faster than she is, she probably would be somewhere other than Ellis Park on Saturday. But she isn't, so she's not, and the $50,000 Audubon Oaks "looks like the right spot" for the filly's stakes debut, Proctor said.

Aidan's Bella, part of a full field of 12 3-year-old fillies in the Audubon Oaks, "has some limitations, but she does have some quality to her," said Proctor, who has strings of horses at three tracks: Churchill Downs, Remington Park, and Arlington Park, where he has spent most of his time lately.

Somewhat limited in ability, but nonetheless highly useful, is probably what could be said of most of the others in the Audubon Oaks, which anchors a Saturday program as the 10th of 11 races at the Henderson, Ky., track. They do appear evenly matched, which makes the 1o1/16-mile turf race an interesting one.

Aidan's Bella, with John McKee riding from post 4, was bred and is owned by E.J. Sukley. The Repriced filly won at Arlington in her most recent start. Lagging just off the pace, Aidan's Bella drove to a 1 3/4-length victory in an entry-level allowance in the kind of performance that makes her a good fit with the other logical contenders in the Audubon Oaks.

Those other main players include Swift Temper (post 1), who takes a much-needed class drop after having chased the likes of Rags to Riches, Christmas Kid, and High Heels in recent months; Silk Degrees (post 3), a speedy filly from the Greg Foley barn; Katerbug (post 5), a good second in a tough turf allowance last month at Churchill; Si Si Mon Amie (post 7), who, like Aidan's Bella, won an entry-level turf allowance at Arlington last out; Early Vintage (post 11), a Team Valor filly making her grass debut; and Bel Air Beauty (post 12), winner of the Grade 2 Alcibiades Stakes last fall at Keeneland.

Bel Air Beauty, trained by Frank Brothers, looks like the toughest one to gauge. After upsetting the Alcibiades at 47-1, the filly was soundly beaten in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She then finished a tired seventh after showing speed in her only start since then, a main-track allowance last month at Churchill.