Stonetacular goes against older fillies for first time

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Neil Howard is fairly sure that Stonetacular is a stakes filly. “But when do you say it?” he asked. “My quick answer is to say that yes, she is, but [say it] very cautiously.”

Howard hasn’t become one of the best Thoroughbred trainers by proceeding recklessly. Stonetacular, a gray 3-year-old filly owned by Stoneway Farm, probably deserves a shot at a stakes soon, but Howard thought it prudent to remain within the allowance ranks for the present.

Off an eye-catching victory over the highly regarded Elate on the May 5 Kentucky Oaks undercard, Stonetacular will be favored Sunday when the fourth and richest of 10 races is run at Churchill Downs. Brian Hernandez Jr. will have the mount back when she faces older fillies for the first time in a $57,500, second-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

“Obviously, we would’ve preferred to have run against 3-year-olds only,” said Howard, referencing a June 17 allowance in the Churchill condition book. “But you can’t be sure something like that will fill, and this came up first. So, here we are.”

Somewhere down the road, Stonetacular likely will get a chance at graded type when bidding to join the likes of Summer Squall, Mineshaft, Secret Status, and the dozens of other horses who have accounted for 182 stakes wins since Howard, 68, began training in 1979. Until then, the assignment at hand is to run back to her Oaks Day effort.

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“She came out of the race really well,” Howard said.

Motown Lady, Miner’s Cat, and an Argentine import, Blue Prize, are the main threats in a field of six in the nominal feature, which is set for 2:13 p.m. Eastern. First post is 12:45.

One other allowance (race 9, 4:51) is on tap Sunday: a $55,300, first-level turf mile in which Gorse, Silver Defense, Kitten’s Karma, and Durango Dan all figure to attract backing among a well-matched field of nine 3-year-olds.

After Sunday, Churchill goes dark for three days before another four-day week resumes with a Twilight Thursday card. The showcase race of the post-Kentucky Derby portion of the spring meet, the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, is next Saturday night.

KEY CONTENDERS (race 4)

Stonetacular, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 89-74-83

◗ Her four-length Oaks Day score over Elate, the beaten favorite in the Grade 1 Ashland, makes her the obvious favorite here.

Motown Lady, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 85-68-83

◗ She’s shown herself to be highly capable on grass but is winless in three starts on dirt.

Miner’s Cat, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 75-74-80

◗ An easy win here last November is a useful reference point as she makes the third start in her form cycle.

Blue Prize, by Pure Prize
No Beyers

◗ Although a Group 1 winner in her native country, she’s an obvious unknown when making her North American debut for Ignacio Correas.