With two Grade I winners and a number of other intriguing prospects signed on, the GII Eight Belles S. looms as one of the most compelling supporting stakes on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard Friday. Just hours apart Sept. 3, John Oxley's Pretty City Dancer (Tapit) and Ruis Racing's Union Strike (Union Rags) captured the GI Spinaway S. and GI Del Mar Debutante S., respectively, to stamp themselves among the leaders in their class. Pretty City Dancer returned from a lengthy layoff with a good runner-up finish in the seven-furlong GII Forward Gal S. at Gulfstream Feb. 4 but has failed to factor in two subsequent tries–including a well beaten sixth-place try around two turns in the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland Apr. 8. Joined by stakes-winning stablemate Let It Ride Mom (Into Mischief) in the Eight Belles starting gate, the gray cuts back to her seemingly preferred one-turn trip and reunites with jockey Julien Leparoux. Likewise, morning line favorite Union Strike never got close in two tries over a route of ground following her Del Mar score, but recently got back on track with a authoritative tally in the 6 1/2-furlong Santa Paula S. at Santa Anita after owner Mick Ruis assumed the role of trainer for the stable.
Trainer David Fawkes has two entrants for the Eight Belles, including e Five Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Florida Fabulous (High Cotton), easily undefeated in two starts traveling a mile at Gulfstream Park Feb. 16 and Mar. 31. The $400,000 OBS April buy set blistering fractions over a quick surface in the latter win and figures to be a major pace presence once again Friday. Stablemate Cajun Delta Dawn (Kantharos) is drawn to the far outside in the field of 14, but possesses the tactical speed to carve out a workable trip. The Florida-bred annexed three stakes around one turn at Gulfstream as a juvenile and was last seen finishing a respectable second in the wake of Shane's Girlfriend (Adios Charlie) in the GIII Delta Princess S. over a mile at Delta Downs in November.
Sumaya US Stables' Ghalia (Medaglia d'Oro), unbeaten from three trips to post, earned a gritty success in the Sunland Park Oaks over 1 1/16 miles Mar. 26 and cuts back in distance here for trainer Todd Pletcher. Shortleaf Stables and Brad Cox are trying a similar turn-back move with Benner Island (Speightstown), recently an even fifth in her second start with blinkers in Oaklawn's GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 14. Adding the services of pilot Javier Castellano, the sophomore owns a win going a mile over the main track in Louisville last November.
Others with prior success over the surface include Lovely Bernadette (Wilburn), generously morning-lined at 30-1 despite winning the Rags to Riches S. over GI Kentucky Oaks hopeful Farrell (Malibu Moon) in October. Golden Mischief (Into Mischief) won an optional claimer beneath the Twin Spires last September and has won three stakes races in the interim.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
