'City Girl' Looks to Fill Big Sis's Shoes

With her two-years-older sister and former stablemate La Verdad (Yes It's True) officially retired after earning an Eclipse as champion female sprinter in 2015, Hot City Girl (City Zip) kicks off her 4-year-old campaign for Lady Sheila Stable and Linda Rice in Saturday's GII Barbara Fritchie H. at Laurel Park. The chestnut earned her first graded victory with a front-running success in the GIII Charles Town Oaks Sept. 19, and added a facile optional claiming tally at Belmont before airing by 8 1/4 lengths in the track-and-trip Safely Kept S. Nov. 14. She nearly ran away with the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26, only to settle for second behind the late charge of Birdatthewire (Summer Bird). La Verdad finished second in this event two years ago. In addition to training that champion, Rice conditioned both Hot City Girl's sire and dam for different owners. With some higher-profile connections shipping horses in, local hope Lady Sabelia (Majestic Warrior) could receive a little less support than she might normally as defending champion. The dark bay earned her fourth-consecutive victory over Princess Violet (Officer) here 12 months ago, but faded to last after setting very swift splits in Keeneland's GI Madison S. in April. Second in Pimlico's Skipat S. in May, she resurfaced to romp by 7 1/4 lengths with a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure in Belmont's Pumpkin Pie S. Nov. 1 and was last seen annexing the Willa On the Move S. here Dec. 5. Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful) has a chance to regain her best form on the cut back in distance. The Leah Gyarmati pupil has hit the board four times at the highest level, most recently when second in Belmont's GI Mother Goose S. last June. A disappointing eighth in the GI Test S. at Saratoga in August, the New York-bred bounced back to take the 8 1/2-panel, restricted Empire Distaff H. Oct. 24 before filling out the trifecta in both Aqueduct's nine-furlong GIII Comely S. Nov. 28 and Ladies H. over an extended mile Jan. 10.