California Angel takes on 10 rivals in Mrs. Revere

Chris Walsh’s classy 3-year-old filly California Angel tops a field of 11 that were entered in Friday’s 31st running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Mrs. Revere for 3-year-old fillies will go as Race 9 of 12 with a post time of 4:57 p.m. EST. The turf event is scheduled to be contested in Lane 3, 24 feet from the inside rail. First post is 1 p.m. and the stellar “Black Friday” program also features the 148th running of the $750,000 Clark (G1) in Race 11.

Trained by George Leonard III, California Angel gained many fans before she contested last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The daughter of Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome finished 11th but was beaten just four lengths in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

After her runner-up effort in the Allen “Black Cat” LaCombe Memorial at Fair Grounds, Leonard gave the filly time on the sidelines until September, when she finished a determined third in the Dueling Ground Oaks. California Angel went on to finish fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) and second in the Valley View (G3), which she contested on just 12 days rest. Churchill Downs leading rider Tyler Gaffalione will be aboard in the Mrs. Revere, and the duo will break from post No. 6.

Trainer Kenny McPeek entered a trio of fillies in the Mrs. Revere: stakes-placed Lady Puchi, recent allowance winner Lovely Princess and maiden special weight winner Sweet Lady Ivanka.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode all three fillies in their last starts and will be aboard Lovely Princess for the Mrs. Revere. In her last start, Lovely Princess rallied from seven lengths off the early pace in a first-level allowance event at Keeneland for a one-length victory. The daughter of Twirling Candy earned an 85 Brisnet Speed Rating for her win. She’ll break from post 7 in the Mrs. Revere.

Jockey Julien Leparoux will have the call on Lady Puchi from post 3 while Corey Lanerie will pick up on the mount on Sweet lady Ivanka out of post 5.

Another filly with a graded-stakes victory on her résumé is Matron (G3) winner Bubble Rock. Trained by Brad Cox, Bubble Rock scored a half-length win as a 2-year-old at Belmont Park in the Matron prior to her 12th-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. As a 3-year-old, Bubble Rock sports a 2 1/2-length score in the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes, run over the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park. Bubble Rock will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post 4.