Qatar Racing's Peace and War (War Front), winner of the GI Alcibiades S. over this track Oct. 3, will headline the seven-horse field that will line up for the GI Central Bank Ashland S. this afternoon. The Olly Stevens trainee was successful in her debut over the Lingfield synthetic last May and was sixth in Ascot's G3 Albany S. trying the turf in June. She was a narrowly-beaten second in a Haydock allowance before her rallying upset in the Alcibiades. She was sidelined with a minor injury and has been on the bench sinch that effort.
GI Chandelier S. victress Angela Renee (Bernardini) looks to return to the winner's circle for the first time since that effort. The Siena Farm homebred disappointed when she finished 10th as the favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She has since been third in the GII Demoisel S. Nov. 29 and fourth in the GIII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds Feb. 21.
Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) kicked off her sophomore campaign with a wire-to-wire optional claiming victory going an extended mile at the Fair Grounds Jan. 26 and was second to I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings) stretching out to 1 1/16 miles in the Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 21. In a field that has so far shown very little early speed, Lovely Maria could find herself in a good position on the front end. Lovely Maria fired a five-furlong bullet in 1:00 2/5 at Fair Grounds Monday before shipping up to Keeneland.
“She just arrived [Tuesday] and worked at the Fair Grounds on Monday,” trainer Larry Jones said. “Her work was very good and so was the one before that. This one wasn't as fast as her bullet two weeks ago, but [regular jockey] Kerwin [Clark] said it was even better. She had her ears pricked.”
Gary and Mary West homebred West Coast Belle (Tapit) took consecutive stakes at the tail-end of her juvenile year in Churchill's Rags to Riches S. Oct. 26 and the GII Golden Rod Nov. 29. She was unplaced in her next two starts at the Fair Grounds when fourth in the Silverbulletday S. Jan. 17 and sixth in the Rachel Alexandra. However, trainer Wayne Catalano is unphased by her last two efforts, and attributes them to the track. “I don't think she liked the track at Fair Grounds and I think she'll run a good race,” he offered.
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