‘Club’ Membership Up For Grabs
Two previous winners of the GIII Thoroughbred Club of America S. square off in this “Win and You’re In” affair for a place in the starting gate of the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland later this month. The 2015 Eclipse Champion Female Sprinter for owner/trainer Wesley Ward, Judy the Beauty (Ghostzapper) was given the morning line nod at 6-5. The chestnut eked out a narrow victory in the 2014 GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint over fifth-place Leigh Court (Grand Slam) en route to championship honors. Coming off a six-month layoff, the Canadian-bred missed by a neck in the GI Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs May 2 and resurfaced with a third-place effort behind La Verdad (Yes It’s True) in the GII Honorable Miss H. up at the Spa last out July 29.
Versatile Leigh Court, successful in last year’s edition for Josie Carroll and Melnyk Racing Stables was snapped up by Speedway Stables for $1 million at the FTKNOV sale after the Breeders’ Cup. Twice a bridesmaid this term in the grassy GIII Royal North S. up at Woodbine July 26 and the GII Presque Isle Downs Masters S. over the synthetic Sept. 7 for trainer Mike Stidham, she looms the main danger to land the spoils. “Obviously, she ran two strong races coming into this,” Stidham said. “In actuality, she ran two of her best numbers in those races, so she’s running up to her potential and been unlucky not to win both. We’re hoping that she will run well coming back to Keeneland–a track we know she likes. She’s on schedule for the Breeders’ Cup.”
Alto Racing colorbearer Sweet Whiskey (Old Fashioned), second in last term’s GI Acorn S. stretching out at Belmont, attempts to regain the form that saw her take third in the GII Inside Information S. in Hallandale in March. The Todd Pletcher pupil tired badly to eighth tackling 1 1/16 miles in the GI La Troienne S. May 1 before running first and second in a pair of sprinting affairs at the Spa July 27 and Aug. 26, respectively. Roxelana S. heroine Fioretti (Bernardini), third last out in the GIII Groupie Doll S. going a mile at Ellis Park Aug. 8, should be considered if the top choices don’t bring their ‘A’ game.