A Big Day for the Fillies too

With the Kentucky Derby Champion Series, including all those big points available towards the 2015 Kentucky Derby, beginning on Saturday, it is sure to be an important weekend for the three-year-olds. Males that is; but don't forget about the fillies. Saturday is also a big day for the girls, with several important stakes for the sophomore fillies, as they move ever closer to the 2015 Kentucky Oaks. Chief among these races, will be a trio of stakes races at Gulfstream, Fair Grounds, and Aqueduct. Let’s take a closer look.

In Florida, the Grade 2 Davona Dale has attracted a gaggle of interesting young fillies to Gulfstream Park. Of them all, Birdatthewire might be the one to beat. The daughter of the 2009 Belmont, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, Summer Bird, made a big impression locally when she won her second straight in the Grade 2, seven furlong Forward Gal Stakes. That afternoon she exploded from way back to win going away down the lane for trainer Dale Romans. As good as she looks, there are no shortage of dangerous fillies in here with high hopes of denying her third consecutive win.

Chief among them is the Bill Mott-trained, Puca. The daughter of Big Brown looked like the real deal when breaking her maiden by 16 lengths last fall at Belmont Park. Unfortunately, she did not have the best of trips when finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, beaten only three lengths. Other notable players in the Davona Dale include; the unbeaten Jacaranda, who won the Grade 3 Tempted when last seen in November, the streaking Eskenformoney, who has won two straight easily at this distance and track, Lassofthemohicans, runner-up in the Forward Gal, Enchantress, who got tangled in a speed duel in that same race, the Old Hat winner, Ekati’s Phaeton, and the winner of the Grade 2 Adirondack, Cavorting.

Over in New Orleans, I’m A Chatterbox will look to build upon her romping win in last month’s Silverbulletday Stakes when she tops a field of ten in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra. A first out winner at Keeneland last fall, she won only 1-of-3 as a juvenile, but that performance in the Silverbulletday, by the Larry Jones trained daughter of Munnings, could easily be identified as the biggest race run so far by a young filly in 2015. A similar effort on Saturday would likely vault her to the top of the heap among serious Kentucky Oaks candidates. If I’m A Chatterbox is indeed able to validate her win in the Silverbulletday, it will come at the direct expense of a deep and talented field.

Two-time stakes winner, West Coast Belle, suffered her first career defeat when fourth behind I’m A Chatterbox, but an improved effort from the daughter of Tapit would come as no surprise in her second go of the season. Others hoping to make life difficult for I’m A Chatterbox in the Rachel Alexandra, include the Grade 1 winner, Angela Renee, making her three-year-old debut, the highly regarded Shook Up, from the Steve Asmussen barn, and the Silverbulletday bridesmaid, Forever Unbridled.

And finally, in New York, the $100,000 Busher does not carry a graded stakes distinction, but as Princess of Sylmar demonstrated just two seasons ago, that does not rule it out as a legitimate prep for the Kentucky Oaks. This year’s edition features the much anticipated return to the races of  Condo Commando. When the daughter of Tiz Wonderful is good, she is very good. Starting with her career debut in a maiden claiming race of all places, Condo Commando won three of her four lifetime starts by eleven lengths or more as a juvenile. Included in those romps were runaways in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga, and the Grade 2 Demoiselle at nine furlongs. Sandwiched between those stakes wins was a 4th place finish in the Grade 1 Frizette. It would seem that somewhat disappointing effort was the exception to the rule.

If we do see the good Condo Commando on Saturday, she will be tough to beat, but if she is not at her best, there are a few nice fillies in there who will be looking for the upset. Chief among them being the consistent Paulassilverlining, winner of the Ruthless in her most recent start for trainer Michelle Nevin. The top two from the Busanda, Overprepared and Liberty Island, are also in with a chance in the Busher.