Rubilinda starting year in a familiar place
ELMONT, N.Y. – Rubilinda began her 3-year-old season in spectacular fashion over the Belmont Park turf course in May 2017. She hopes to begin her 4-year-old campaign in similar style Thursday when she returns from a six-month layoff in a third-level allowance race going seven furlongs on turf at Belmont Park.
Rubilinda, a daughter of Frankel, rallied from last to win her debut going six furlongs last May 27. She then got beat at 2-5 in a first-level allowance race in July.
After being unable to get into a race at Saratoga last summer, Rubilinda won the Christiecat and Pebbles stakes, going six furlongs and a mile, respectively, at Belmont.
Trainer Chad Brown shipped Rubilinda cross-country for the Grade 1 Matriarch, a two-turn mile race Nov. 26 at Del Mar, where she finished sixth.
Rubilinda showed a devastating turn of foot, despite the fact she was often headstrong early on in her races.
“That’s part of her, she’s an aggressive filly,” Brown said. “She’s training pretty kindly of late. I’m optimistic that she’ll be able to settle now that she’s had a little bit of time. She’s grown a little older.”
Rubilinda will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 7 in the eight-horse field.
Several runners in here are coming off extended layoffs. That includes Boreale, a 5-year-old mare who finished fourth in the Grade 2 Bessarabian over Woodbine’s synthetic surface on Nov. 26.
The last time Boreale raced in allowance company, she won a second-level condition June 14 at Delaware Park.
Great Soul, a Pennsylvania-bred, has been competing in mostly restricted statebred races. She was beaten a nose by My Sistersledge in the Maryland Million Ladies Stakes on Oct. 21 at Laurel.
Malibu Stacy, Mo Knows, Anydayismyday, Amabilis, and Weekfair complete the field.
KEY CONTENDERS
Rubilinda, by Frankel
Last 3 Beyers: 93-92-91
◗ Headstrong filly has shown ability to win off workouts before as she makes her first start in 165 days.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last 90 days, Brown is 15 for 47 with a $1.96 ROI with horses returning from layoffs between 61 and 180 days.
Boreale, by Makfi
Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-81
◗ Has a win, two seconds, and two thirds in six starts since coming to race in the United States.
◗ Like Rubilinda, this one is returning from a 165-day layoff. Her lone U.S. win came off a 168-day layoff at Delaware in June.
◗ Motion has a win and two seconds from four starters at this meet with horses returning from long layoffs.
Malibu Stacy, by Tizway
Last 3 Beyers: 84-87-72
◗ Gets some class relief after competing in five straight stakes going back to last fall at Belmont.
◗ The last time she participated in an allowance race, she won by two lengths.
◗ Gets blinkers for this race.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over last two years, trainer George Weaver is 4 for 38 with a $2.63 ROI running a horse first time in blinkers.
