A ‘Wicked’ Favorite in the Pocahontas

The even-money morning line about Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Just Wicked (Tapit) looks to be perhaps five times what the starting price figures as she looks to punch her ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in Saturday’s GII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Downs.

Campaigned by the connections of 2013 victix Untapable (Tapit), the homebred daughter of SW Wicked Deed (Harlan’s Holiday) debuted with a runner-up effort in a five-furlong grass maiden at Belmont Park June 14, then handled the switch to the main track with aplomb, graduating by 1 3/4 lengths at Saratoga July 24. The gray filly improved for that effort to outstay ‘TDN Rising Star’ Tonasah (Malibu Moon) by 1 1/4 lengths in the GII Adirondack S. Aug. 15 and anything close to the 83 Beyer Speed Figure she earned for that event should be more than enough to handle these.

Dothraki Queen (Pure Prize) will try to transition seamlessly to the main track as she faces graded stakes company for the first time. Owned by Magdalena Racing, the bay was away slowly in her one-mile debut over the Ellis turf course July 12, but began to roll nearing the stretch and cantered in a seven-length winner. Though there is plenty of grass in her family, her dam Sharaiji Blossom (Saint Ballado) is a half-sister to Blushing K D (Blushing John), who landed the 1997 GI Kentucky Oaks beneath the Twin Spires.

Put Da Blame On Me (Blame), whose sire defeated Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) in the 2011 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at this venue, was a well-beaten fourth as the favorite behind Vivid Storm (Super Saver) going five furlongs at Ellis July 10, but turned it around last time out with a 4 3/4-length success at Indiana Downs Aug. 5. She is nicely bred for this stretch out to two turns and has worked very well over the local strip. Trainer Dale Romans has won the Pocahontas three times in the last seven years, including Cristina’s Journey (Any Given Saturday) in 2014.