Leading Ladies Line Up in Acorn

Three of the East Coast's top sophomore fillies will face off at Belmont Saturday in the GI Acorn S. Leading the contentious group of ladies is dominant GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss), who has turned in a pair of speedy works at Monmouth Park since taking home the lillies May 6. Trained by John Servis for Cash is King LLC, the “TDN Rising Star” opened her account with a four-race win streak that included the GII Forward Gal S. and GII Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale S. earlier this season. Tasting defeat for the first time at the hooves of 30-1 shot Weep No More (Mineshaft) when third in her two-turn debut in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. Apr. 9, the bay was originally being aimed at Churchill's seven-furlong GII Eight Belles S. May 6, but was re-routed to the Oaks after the defection of champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro). That decision proved quite wise when she charged home to an ultra-impressive 2 3/4-length victory beneath the Twin Spires.

Fellow “TDN Rising Star” Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) did not have enough points to make it into the Oaks field, so trainer Bill Mott settled for the Eight Belles instead. Bumped at the start, she settled at the back early and unleashed a powerful six-wide rally at the top of the stretch to dominate by six lengths. Closing out last season with a win in Churchill's GII Golden Rod S., the Three Chimneys Farm colorbearer faded to fourth after setting the pace in the Ashland prior to her tour-de-force last time out.

Mike Tarp homebred Go Maggie Go (Ghostzapper) has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, winning two graded stakes in her four-race career. A debut winner at Gulfstream Mar. 13, she followed suit with a victory in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Apr. 2. Squeezed out at the start of the Kentucky Oaks, the Dale Romans pupil was shuffled back and forced to check entering the far turn, but still managed to produce a powerful late rally way out in the center of the track to get up for fourth, beaten by just about three lengths. Wheeled back just two weeks later for Pimlico's GII Black-Eyed Susan S., the bay returned to winning ways with a decisive 2 1/2-length score over stablemate Ma Can Do It (Majesticperfection).

“She's special,” Romans said. “It's going to be a good race. It's a really hot race, and you could see a champion come out of there.”