Rubilinda gets more ground in Pebbles Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – As much talent as Rubilinda has shown sprinting, trainer Chad Brown believes she’ll be even better with more distance.

After two attempts at stretching Rubilinda out resulted in scratches, Brown finally gets to run her a mile in Saturday’s $200,000 Pebbles Stakes at Belmont Park. Rubilinda and Thais give Brown a strong 1-2 punch in the Pebbles, which shares billing with the Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.

Rubilinda became the first progeny of the European-based super-stallion Frankel to win in the United States when she won her six-furlong debut here May 27. Brown had Rubilinda entered in the Wild Applause Stakes going a mile here June 24, but rain washed that race off the turf and Brown scratched Rubilinda. On July 9, Rubilinda finished second in a seven-furlong allowance race at Belmont with a troubled trip.

Brown had Rubilinda entered in the Riskaverse Stakes on Aug. 24 at Saratoga, but she failed to draw in from the also-eligible list. Instead, Rubilinda won the six-furlong Christiecat Stakes going six furlongs Sept. 8 at Belmont, showing another strong turn of foot.

“We’ve been looking forward to getting her out to a mile,” Brown said. “Just because they’re stretching out doesn’t mean they’ll be as effective. It depends on the horse. For me, route horses are good enough to do that because they’re super-talented horses, and I feel she’s in that category.”

Brown also sends out Thais, who in her U.S. debut Sept. 2 finished second to the front-running longshot Malibu Stacy at Saratoga.

“In particular that day, the ground was very, very hard, and they were kicking up a lot of dust, and it did favor horses that were forwardly placed,” Brown said. “A mile should be okay for her, and down the road, I think this filly could get out to a mile and an eighth.”

Adorable Miss, Party Boat, Sylphide, Lido, Bellavais, Dynatail, and Scheme complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Rubilinda, by Frankel
Last 3 Beyers: 91-82-82

◗ Has shown an explosive turn of foot in winning a pair of six-furlong races over the Belmont turf.

◗ This will be her first try at a mile, a distance at which her connections believe she will excel.

Party Boat, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 91-88-89

◗ Probably was closer to the pace than she prefers when third to Proctor’s Ledge in the Grade 2 Lake Placid on Aug. 19 at Saratoga.

◗ Could not catch a loose-on-the-lead Dynatail when second in the Penn Oaks. With Sylphide and Dynatail in this field, she should get some pace in which to close.

Thais, by Rio de La Plata
Beyer: 89

◗ Came with a late run but could not catch the front-running Malibu Stacy when beaten two lengths in a second-level allowance at Saratoga.

◗ Was beaten a length in a Group 3 stakes in France in April.