By Christie DeBernardis
Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel captured the GI Matriarch S. A record eight times, but it is one of the few turf stakes that has eluded his protegee Chad Brown thus far. The New York-based conditioner looks to change that Sunday when he sends out Off Limits (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Rubilinda (Frankel {GB}) in the Del Mar feature. The former makes her first trip the West Coast on a hot streak, having won her last three races, including the GIII Noble Damsel S. Sept. 23 and GIII Athenia S. Oct. 28. Stablemate and “TDN Rising Star” Rubilinda is still a sophomore and seeks her first graded victory here off a pair of wins in the Sept. 8 Christiecat S. and Oct. 14 Pebbles S.
Fellow 3-year-old New Yorker Lull (War Front) should prove tough as she seeks her first top-level success here for trainer Christophe Clement. Winner of the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Sept. 9, the homebred checked in third in the GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. Oct. 13 and returned to winning ways in the one-mile GIII Autumn Miss S. at Santa Anita last time Oct. 29.
Cambodia (War Front) cuts back in trip after a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf Nov. 4. Prior to that, the Tom Proctor pupil captured the 1 1/16-mile GII Yellow Ribbon H. Aug. 5 and the nine-panel GII John C. Mabee S. Sept. 2 over this course.
Kitten's Roar (Kitten's Joy) and Thunder Sky (Sky Mesa), the top two finishers from the GII Goldikova S. Nov. 4, rematch in this spot. Another runner worth consideration is Lael Stables' Hawksmoor (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). Heroine of the GIII Beaugay S. and GII New York S. earlier this term, she enters off a runner-up finish in Keeneland's GI First Lady S. Oct. 7.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
