Vivian Da Bling gets class break in My Trusty Cat

Vivian Da Bling faced some of the elite members of her division in her last start, and that should prompt bettors to make her the favorite in Friday night’s $100,000 My Trusty Cat at Delta Downs. She is part of a nine-horse field that also includes fellow stakes winner Joy of the Saints and Los Alamitos maiden winner Sandy’s Song.

The My Trusty Cat, a seven-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies, will be run around two turns. It serves as the local prep for the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess, which is part of the Delta Downs Jackpot card Nov. 22.

Vivian Da Bling became a stakes winner in her second start, when she romped by 6 1/4 lengths in the $98,000 fillies division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park on July 12. She advanced to the Grade 2 Adirondack on Aug. 10 at Saratoga and finished fourth behind Cavorting, Angela Renee, and Wonder Gal. All three have been pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

“I thought it was a really good race against quality horses,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains Vivian Da Bling.

KEY CONTENDERS

Vivian Da Bling (Last 3 Beyers: 85-83-73)

◗ She’s shown talent from the start, winning her first two races by a combined 15 3/4 lengths.

◗ She will be making her two-turn debut in the My Trusty Cat.

“She’s prepared very well for this,” Calhoun said. “We’ve had this race targeted for a long time, and we’ve really trained her [for the] stretch-out, and I can’t ask for her to have done any better. She’s responded just like you’d like through her longer works. She seems like she’s learned to rate and relax, and we’re looking for a good race Friday night.”

◗ Vivian Da Bling, who races for JRita Young Thoroughbreds, will break from post 2 under Chris Rosier.

Sandy’s Song (Last 3 Beyers: 65-68-71)

◗ She will be making her stakes debut after winning a maiden special weight race at Los Alamitos at six furlongs Sept. 21.

◗ Two horses she defeated returned to win at Santa Anita, one in a $30,000 maiden claimer and the other in a maiden special weight race.

Joy of the Saints (Last 3 Beyers: 18-66-41)

◗ She is a two-time stakes winner.