Advantage Zhukova in the Flower Bowl

Sunday's GI Flower Bowl S. at Belmont Park, a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race for the GI Filly & Mare Turf a month from now, is missing pro-tem divisional leader Lady Eli (Divine Park), but features the Chad Brown-trained duo that ran the quinella in the GI Beverly D. S. last time and a European raider for the always-dangerous Dermot Weld barn.

That would be Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who makes her second trans-Atlantic journey of the year, though she will square off with her peers this time around. That previous trip to Long Island resulted in a six-length demolition of a group of males in the GI Man O'War S. in May, the strength of which looks that much better in the aftermath of third-placed Sadler's Joy (Kitten's Joy)'s subsequent win later in the summer in the GI Sword Dancer Invitational S. To be fair, the Man O'War was run at a farcical pace over extremely soft turf, but Zhukova raced prominently and bolted away late. It will undoubtedly be firmer underfoot Sunday, but it looks another paceless renewal that could suit a sit-sprint sort of animal. The Flower Bowl will represent serious class relief for Zhukova, who exits an eighth in the G1 Irish Champion S. Sept. 9.

“It's nice to have won here before,” commented the legendary conditioner, who sent out Dimitrova (Swain {Ire}) to win the 2003 Flower Bowl. “It gives us confidence, that's why we're back there with her. The Flower Bowl is a prestigious race and we look forward to competing.”

Brown has sent out the winner of this event in three straight years, including Lady Eli's success 12 months back, and is double-handed here. Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) is clearly the more accomplished of the duo, with her five Group 1/Grade I tallies in Chile and this country. Runner-up to Hawksmoor (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) in the GIII Beaugay S. and sixth to that one in defense of her title in the GII New York S. June 9, Dacita came with a stinging late rally to outfinish Dona Bruja (Arg) (Storm Embrujado {Arg}) in the GI Beverly D. S. in Chicago Aug. 13.

But it is Grand Jete (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who will likely receive more pari-mutuel attention Sunday afternoon and with good reason. Showing a tremendous turn of foot in annexing her first two starts in the U.S., the Juddmonte homebred was all dressed up, but had nowhere to go in the Beverly D. and by the time she was able to get through, Dacita had crossed the wire first.

“She had a nightmare of a trip down on the inside but ran well. She's a tough filly,” said Brown.

The extra sixteenth of a mile will not inconvenience Grand Jete, who will try to give her owner and breeder their first win in the Flower Bowl since the Henry Cecil-trained Yashmak (Danzig) scooped the prize in 1997.

Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) represented parlayed a win in the 2015 Flower Bowl into victory in the Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland.