Battlefield Angel Scores Impressively, Weighing Stakes

Well-regarded filly Battlefield Angel may be stakes-bound after a solid allowance win on Thursday, according to her connections.  Trained by Kellyn Gorder and owned by John and Martha Jane Mulholland, the daughter of Proud Citizen made a romping debut on the Arlington International Racecourse turf, winning a first level allowance by a facile four lengths.  After prompting the pace, the Kentucky-bred flanked the leader before quickly opening up on the field in mid-stretch and putting her foes away with ease.  The race was her second of 2014 - the first being a third in a tough six-furlong allowance on May 17.

“It went really good; she felt great,” said jockey Florent Geroux.  “She probably needed the race last time out.  I think it really helped her coming into the race.  She was a question mark on the turf, but Mr. Gorder told me she would like it and plenty of pedigree to take to it.”

Last year, while owned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and trained by Wayne Catalano, the filly was highly regarded by her connections.  She broke her maiden at second asking at the Chicagoland oval before a troubled trip in the Listed Arlington-Washington Lassie.  “She stumbled from the gate last year,” Geroux explained.  “I think she could have won that race.  She has a lot of class and could win graded stakes.”  Battlefield Angel subsequently finished a flying third in the Grade I Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland to close out her year.

“I got her in mid-winter,” Gorder said.  “She was sold privately and was at Keeneland this whole time training.  We were actually looking for a shorter race on the main track, but the race didn’t go.  We’ll be looking for a stakes somewhere with her.”  Possibly on tap for the emblazoned chestnut may be the Grade III $150,000 Arlington Oaks on July 19 on the same main course Polytrack upon which she broke her maiden.