Emma's Encore Looks to Rebound at the Gulf

Brenda Mercer and Peter Berglar’s 4-year-old filly Emma’s Encore, winner of the Prioress Stakes (G1) at Saratoga last summer for Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens, ran well to be second in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint on Jan. 19 at Gulfstream Park in her 2013 debut, but finished a disappointing fifth of nine last out in the $150,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) on Feb. 10.

“That was definitely disappointing,” said Jerkens of the Hurricane Bertie in which she was beaten seven lengths by Golden Mystery. “She had trained so well I was expecting a better effort, but we’ll go ahead to the Inside Information,” referring to the $150,000, Grade 2 test at seven furlongs on Sun., Mar. 17.

“One thing different will be the weights next time. She’ll get a little better deal. I’m not saying the weight was enough make that big a difference in the Hurricane Bertie.” Under the conditions of the Sunshine Millions Emma’s Encore gave victorious Golden Mystery four pounds (121-117) and then six (123-117) in the Hurricane Bertie.

A Florida-bred daughter of Congrats, Emma’s Encore came to Jerkens care here last winter as a maiden after three starts in the mid-west as a 2-year-old. She broke her maiden and won an allowance race after a third-place try before a dull eighth-place finish behind Grace Hall in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in her only career try beyond a sprint distance.