Strong pedigrees square off in Churchill maiden race
?q=100)
Several barns that have had solid success with 2-year-olds this year unveil more of their respective arsenals in a $120,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies going 6 1/2 furlongs on Thursday at Churchill Downs.
Cherie DeVaux has already unleashed the classy Englishman, a 7 1/4-length maiden winner last Friday at this meet, and has well-bred runners in the barn. These include Saratoga maiden winner Dr. Agne, out of champion Lady Eli, and the still-developing Nymue, out of champion Zenyatta.
DeVaux unveils another well-bred runner here in Whisper Hill Farm homebred Soaring High. The Curlin filly is out of fellow Hall of Famer Songbird, who is off to a quieter start in her broodmare career, with one winner from four starters to date. That winner was later-blooming, with two victories this year at age 4. However, Soaring High has two recent bullet works at Keeneland, suggesting she might be a bit sharper.
Tom Amoss is having a strong year with his 2-year-olds, as the string includes Sapling winner One More Freud, Grade 3-placed maiden winner Spa Prospector, and Saratoga maiden winners Big Dom, It’s Our Time, and Oscar’s Hope. Here, he has Quality Ami, who was ninth on debut at Ellis Park. The filly is from the first crop of champion juvenile Essential Quality, who was at his best as the season progressed and the distances got longer.
Essential Quality’s foals appear to be stepping it up heading into the fall. Quality Ami is out of outstanding broodmare Galloping Ami, whose four stakes winners include Grade 1 winner Kopion.
Mark Casse trains the best runner thus far from Horse of the Year Knicks Go’s first crop in Ewing, a multiple graded stakes winner this summer at Sararoga. In Saturday’s race, Casse will unveil Jackie Blue, a daughter of Knicks Go. Casse also sends out another entrant, Counting Stars, the 9-2 second choice on the morning line.
The lukewarm 4-1 choice on the morning line is Fashion Designer, eighth on debut at Ellis for Brad Cox as another of the few in this field with experience. The daughter of leading sire Into Mischief is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Life Is Good, who had brilliant speed that carried.
My Glenda Faye, by Gun Runner, is from the female line of multiple Grade 1 winner and Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady. This is the family of champions Take Charge Brandi and Will Take Charge, as well as Grade 1 winners Omaha Beach and Take Charge Indy.
This race has drawn an overflow field. Twelve may start, and there are four also-eligibles, some of whom could figure prominently if they draw in. The first also-eligible is Tam Tam, a $975,000 Medaglia d’Oro filly who is a granddaughter of champion juvenile and influential broodmare Folklore. The filly was third, beaten a half-length after leading, in her debut in a strong Travers Day maiden race at Saratoga. Trainer Phil Bauer removes her blinkers here.
Next on the also-eligible list is Godolphin homebred Bella Ballerina, by Street Sense and out of Grade 1 winner Pretty City Dancer. If rain materializes this week, Street Sense is a strong wet-track sire.
A third also-eligible, Elite, is a full sister to Horse of the Year Authentic.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.