Somali Lemonade may go to Keeneland for First Lady

After finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Beverly D. at 1 3/16 miles in her last start, Somali Lemonade may shorten up to a mile in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland on Oct. 4, trainer Michael Matz said Wednesday.

Matz had been considering running Somali Lemonade in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at 1 1/4 miles at Belmont on Sept. 27. Somali Lemonade finished sixth in last year’s Flower Bowl.

“I sort of feel like a mile and a quarter in Grade 1 company is a little bit out of her reach,” said Matz, who added that he still needed to discuss the plan with owner Caroline Forgason, his sister-in-law. “I know she wants to go to the Breeders’ Cup, but to go there and get beat three or four lengths just to say you were there may not make sense.”

Somali Lemonade won the Grade 1 Diana at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga on July 19 and earlier in the year won the Grade 3 Gallorette at 1 1/16 miles at Pimlico. In the Beverly D., however, Somali Lemonade didn’t stay the 1 3/16 miles, losing by 2 1/4 lengths to Euro Charline.