Shook Up, Promise Me Silver meet in Acorn
The $750,000 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday has it all: a full field, dueling favorites, and a handful of up-and-comers with a license to work their way into the exotics.
Favoritism in the 12-horse field of 3-year-old fillies could go to any of Shook Up, the second-place finisher in the Kentucky Oaks; Promise Me Silver, the undefeated winner of the Eight Belles on the Oaks undercard; or Condo Commando, who was finished early in the Oaks but may bounce back on her home turf in New York.
Shook Up spent the winter knocking heads with the Larry Jones tag team of Lovely Maria and I’m a Chatterbox at Fair Grounds, and the form of all three fillies has held up this spring. Lovely Maria finished second to I’m a Chatterbox in the Rachel Alexandra and since then has won the Grade 1 Ashland and Kentucky Oaks.
Since the Rachel Alexandra, I’m a Chatterbox has won the Fair Ground Oaks and finished third in the Kentucky Oaks. Shook Up was second in the Fair Grounds Oaks and filled the middle slot in the all-New Orleans trifecta at Churchill Downs.
“I think she’s tremendously talented,” trainer Steve Asmussen said of Shook Up. “I think the defeats are because of the company she’s met.”
Asmussen has worked Shook Up three times at Belmont Park since the Oaks.
“I think the track, the company, and the one-turn mile of the Acorn are all fine for her,” he said.
While Shook Up will be shortening up from 1 1/8 miles for the Acorn, Promise Me Silver will be stretching out from seven furlongs. She might end up stalking Condo Commando early.
Promise Me Silver has yet to be beaten in eight starts for trainer Bret Calhoun and has won seven stakes over six different tracks.
The seven-furlong Eight Belles was the second stakes win for Promise Me Silver at Churchill. She won the Debutante there a year ago. Her other wins have come in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
“The Kentucky race was a big step up for her, and so [is] this race,” Calhoun said. “Her greatest asset is that she has developed into the entire package. She has tremendous physical ability, heart, and a great mind. Right now, she thinks she’s invincible.”
Key contenders
Promise Me Silver (Last 3 Beyers: 87-82-80)
* Calhoun finished fourth in the Acorn last year with Fiftyshadesofgold. He was second on the same card with Marchman in the Jaipur. Midwest-based, his lone New York win came with Bahnah in the 2013 Schuylerville at Saratoga.
Shook Up (Last 3 Beyers: 90-90-79)
* Robby Albarado will be aboard Shook Up for the sixth straight race. He rode her and Promise Me Silver on Kentucky Oaks Day.
Condo Commando (Last 3 Beyers: 82-86-90)
* She tired after six furlongs in the Oaks but since then has worked three times at Aqueduct for Rudy Rodriguez. Look for her to assume her usual position on the lead.
Miss Ella (Last 2 Beyers: 83-78)
* She is 2 for 2 after winning a Gulfstream maiden race and the Grade 2 Beaumont at Keeneland for Graham Motion. Beaumont runner-up Divine Dawn came back to finish fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness.
Wonder Gal (Last 3 Beyers: 76-81-74)
* The question is whether she will be ready off the bench. She has had only one race since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – and that race was two months ago.
“She’s doing well,” trainer Leah Gyarmati said. “She’s a big filly, and we think she’s going to have a great year.”
By the Moon (Last 3 Beyers: 78-82-73)
* Won the Grade 1 Frizette in the slop going a mile at Belmont last October. In her most recent start, she finished second to Acorn entrant Danzatrice in the mile-and-70-yard Parx Oaks.
“I have no complaints with my filly,” trainer Michelle Nevin said. “I think she just doesn’t excel at two turns. She’s better at one.”
Danzatrice (Last 3 Beyers: 85-68-65)
* Was impressive in winning the Parx Oaks while stretching out from 5 1/2 furlongs to a mile and 70 yards. She has tremendous upside but will have to overcome post 12.
** Others in the race to consider are Oceanwave, who will add blinkers for trainer Wayne Catalano, and Curalina, who won a Churchill optional claimer by more than eight lengths for Todd Pletcher on Kentucky Oaks Day.