Sapphire Kitten Tops Allen Lacombe Memorial

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s talented sophomore filly Sapphire Kitten, fourth in last fall’s Grade I $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, tops the ninth running of the $50,000 Allen Lacombe Memorial for turf fillies going 7½ furlongs on the Stall-Wilson turf course on Saturday, March 5. The daughter of Kitten’s Joy exits a strong effort in the Grade III $100,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes at Gulfstream Park in which she closed well after a tough, bottled-up trip. The daughter of Kitten’s Joy and 5-2 morning-line favorite gets the services of Brian Hernandez, Jr., for trainer Joe Sharp from post five in the 13-filly field.

 

Another shipping in from South Florida is Ronny Werner trainee Pancake, who poses the most legitimate threat to Sapphire Kitten. A sharp victress last out at this trip in the $50,000 Broussard Stakes, the Arindel Farm homebred wired the field and showed improvement when shipping to the New Orleans oval. Shaun Bridghmohan picks up the mount from the rail.

 

Other than Pancake, one worth watching in the mix is Broussard beaten favorite Lou, who ran inexplicably flatly when 11th as an even-money underlay. Trained by leading conditioner Mike Stidham, the flashy gray daughter of Gio Ponti has been training well in the interim and owns a victory over the local course when taking a mile allowance in early December. Robby Albarado rides from post nine for owner Thad Ackel.

 

Shipping in from Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Tom Proctor is appropriately named Audubon Park. Presumably named for the sizable recreational landmark that sits adjacent to Tulane University, the Glen Hill Farm-owned charge is making her sophomore debut after a 2-year-old season that saw her break her maiden impressively at Delaware Park among her triad of tries. A daughter of Candy Ride, she is a half-sister to Grade III-winning turf filly Tapicat and breaks from post eight under James Graham.