Money’soncharlotte, Martini Glass headline Lady Jacqueline

A dozen fillies and mares were entered for the second running of the $200,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes at JACK Thistledown Racino this Saturday, headed by Money’soncharlotte, winner of the Molly Pitcher (G3) in her last outing, and Martini Glass, runner-up by a length to champion Songbird in last month’s Delaware Handicap (G1).

 

Neither has won but both have placed at the Lady Jacqueline’s 1 1/8-mile distance. Both will be making their first starts at Thistledown.

 

A 5-year-old mare making her 21st start, Money’soncharlotte enters the Lady Jacqueline after starting the year with three straight wins at a mile or longer. She led every step of her most recent race, the Molly Pitcher at Monmouth, and nearly every step two starts back, the listed Lady’s Secret, when she was forced to duel nearly the entire length of the mile and 70 yards. While the Lady Jacqueline distance could put her front-running style to the test, she has shown she can sit back if asked. Paco Lopez, who was aboard for the two stakes wins this year, will be back aboard Saturday for trainer Kelly Breen.

 

Four-year-old Martini Glass started the year with three straight allowance or starter wins at Tampa Bay Downs before finishing second by a neck in the listed Obeah Stakes and then pressuring Songbird in her most recent start. Although she has won on the front end, she typically comes from off the pace. Keith Nations trains and has named Martini Glass’s recent regular rider, Jose Ferrer, to ride.

 

The field represents 10 betting interests, with Thistledown’s runaway leading owner, Loooch Racing Stables, entering Put Up With It, Nikki My Darling and Moonshine Promise.

 

Nikki My Darling is the only 3-year-old in the field and the only one to have won at the Lady Jacqueline distance. That score came gate-to-wire in her last outing, the state-restricted and muddy Queen City Oaks at Belterra Park. She is trained by Thistledown’s leading trainer, Jeff Radosevich, with Luis Colon named to ride.

 

Entries for the Lady Jacqueline from the rail out: Put Up With It (jockey Luis Rivera, 118 lbs.); Martini Glass (Ferrer, 120); Funny Ghost (Christian Pilares, 118); Divine Elegance (Walter De La Cruz, 118); Money’soncharlotte (Lopez, 124); Miss Mo Kelly (Manoel Cruz, 118); Majestic Angel (Edgar Paucar, 118); Nikki My Darling (Colon, 115); Inconclusive (Ronald Allen Jr., 118); graded stakes-placed Mo d’Amour (Deshawn Parker, 122); Kyles Marigold (Luis Gonzalez, 118) and Moonshine Promise (Ricardo Feliciano, 118).

 

 

Nikki My Darling is cross-entered in the undercard Pay the Man Stakes, which drew eight state-bred fillies and mares representing six wagering interests. Topping the field is three-time Ohio champion Justalittlesmoke, who dominated her three outings this year by a combined 17 1/2 lengths. In her last race, she won the state-restricted J. Wm Petro Stakes at the same distance as the Pay the Man, 1 1/16 miles, by more than seven lengths. In 23 lifetime starts, including 15 at Thistledown, Justalittlesmoke has never been out of the money.

 

Entries for the $75,000 Pay the Man Stakes from the rail out: Nikki My Darling, Floral Sky, Tune Up; Mayas Queen Neetee; Star Mabee; Justalittlesmoke; Cali Dream; and School Board Prez. Nikki My Darling, Floral Sky and Mayas Queen Neetee are the coupled entry, with Loooch Racing Stables again the common owner.