Fiftyshadesofgold Faces Open Company in Debutante

Fiftyshadesofgold, a 10-length winner against Texas-breds in her debut at Lone Star Park, will face open-company for the first time in Saturday’s $100,000-added Debutante and could give the Scharbauer family their first stakes win beneath the Twin Spires since Alysheba’s memorable victory over Seeking the Gold in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I).

 

“She went into the race highly touted and we went in pretty optimistic,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “We’ve really thought highly of this filly for quite some time. Obviously, it’s a class test, for sure, but we’ve had a lot of 2-year-olds over the years and we’ve got a pretty good idea of what we’ve got. I think she’s up to it.”

 

Fiftyshadesofgold was shipped to Churchill Downs shortly after her victory and has since worked twice over the Louisville track.

 

“As soon as she ran down there, we shipped her here,” Calhoun said. “We’ve had this race on our mind for a long time.”

 

The Debutante drew a field of 11 and Fiftyshadesofgold will break from post 10.

 

“I think it’s a good spot,” Calhoun said. “I love having options from out there and it’s always nice to draw the outside with a young, inexperienced horse.”

 

The Debutante will go as Race 7 at 9:05 p.m. (all times Eastern). The $65,000-added Roxelana for fillies and mares at six furlongs highlights the undercard and is scheduled as Race 10 at 10:42 p.m.