Sam Houston: Fiftyshadesofgold launches comeback in fillies division of Texas Stallion Stakes

Fiftyshadesofgold was one of last year’s most exciting young fillies, but a roughly run edition of the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga in August left her sidelined for the remainder of the season. She returns to action Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park in a division of the Texas Stallion Stakes.

It’s a shrewd comeback spot for Fiftyshadesofgold. The race, called the Two Altazano, is a $75,000 stakes restricted to 3-year-old fillies by eligible stallions. Fiftyshadesofgold fits the bill as a Texas-bred daughter of My Golden Song, and she will be a strong favorite in the seven-furlong race that shares a card with the $75,000 Jim’s Orbit division of the Texas Stallion Stakes and the $50,000 Jersey Village.

Fiftyshadesofgold made a splash last summer, when she won the first two races of her career by a combined margin of 18 lengths. She debuted in a maiden special weight sprint at Lone Star Park on May 24, and her dominant performance sent her to post as the favorite in the $113,000 Debutante at Churchill Downs on June 22. Fiftyshadesofgold delivered with a stirring, eight-length win in an effort that made her the odds-on choice in the Adirondack.

But she encountered significant trouble along the inside in that race and ended up fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths. The winner was later disqualified.

“She was all but put over the inside rail,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains Fiftyshadesofgold for her breeder, Clarence Scharbauer Jr. “It was a very disappointing day to have her almost put over the rail. We thought she was a Breeders’ Cup filly at that time.”

Those plans were derailed when Fiftyshadesofgold came out of the race with an injury.

“She had a crack in a cannon bone that required some screws,” Calhoun said.

Fiftyshadesofgold has since had them removed, and preparations for her return have gone as scheduled, Calhoun said.

“We kind of had this spot picked out for quite a while,” he said. “We didn’t force the issue to get here. Everything went perfect.

“We’re excited to have her back. She’s a very good filly that’s trained very well for her return. I think she’s a top-class filly.”

Rosie Napravnik has the mount Saturday.

“Seven-eighths is one of the toughest races that they run,” Calhoun said. “That might not be ideal for a lot of horses coming back off a layoff, but I’m counting on her class.

“She’s also a big filly, and the seven-eighths race allows her to get her feet up under her instead of having to rush.”

◗ F J Uncle Vic should start as a solid choice in the Jim’s Orbit after defeating open company at the race’s seven-furlong distance in last month’s $50,000 Allen’s Landing at Sam Houston.

◗ Quiet Acceleration seeks his second straight stakes win for Danny Pish, his breeder, owner, and trainer, in the Jersey Village.