Frivolous to Defend Fall City Title

G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. homebred Frivolous (Empire Maker), who will be making her final start before heading to the breeding shed, looks to defend her title in the in the GII Fall City H. at Churchill Downs. Frivolous, winner of the GII Fleur de Lis H. and Locust Grove S. earlier this year, was most recently fifth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She is cross entered in the GI Clark H., but her connections indicated she will run here instead.

“I was really disappointed at the Breeders’ Cup and I think the post [No. 2], more than anything, cost her,” trainer Vicki Oliver said. “Sometimes she breaks great and sometimes she doesn’t, but she seems to break better at Churchill than anywhere, I don’t why. Sometimes she just doesn’t leave the gates running and when that happens against a 14-horse field she can get shuffled too far back.”

Birdatthewire (Summer Bird), the winner of the GI Gulfstream Park Oaks in March was fifth in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 1 before taking a six-month break. The Dale Romans trainee returned with a fifth in the GII Chilukki S. Nov. 7 at Churchill and is given a 4-1 chance on the morning line.

Chilukki runner-up Ahh Chocolate (Candy Ride {Arg}) will look for her first stakes score. An optional claiming winner here Sept. 19, she then finished eighth in the GII Raven Run S. at Keeneland before her Chilukki effort.

“I’m thinking that she should be even better as an older filly,” conditioner Neil Howard said. “She’s got the physical makeup for it and she’s got the pedigree for it. But it’s all conjecture until it happens. She’s always been a big filly, especially for one that’s by Candy Ride, so that’s why we felt like she was maybe a little bit ahead of her time physical and mentally she’s always been way ahead. That’s why we’ve jumped into races against older fillies mares sooner rather than later. Her last race was good. She’s doing well and she likes this racetrack.”

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider hoembred Chide (Blame) adds a bit of intrigue. Second in the GIII Dogwood S. Sept. 19, she was seventh in the Raven Run before annexing a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer Nov. 5.