‘Nicole’ a Fresh Threat in the Chilukki

It has been a decade and a half since the Stonerside Stable-owned Chilukki (Cherokee Run) set a then-track record time of 1:33.57 in winning the GII Churchill Downs Distaff H. Whether there is anything of that filly’s quality in Saturday’s renewal–now named in honor of the former Bob Baffert trainee–remains to be seen, but it is a competitive octet ready to face the starter over the one-turn mile.

Shanon Nicole (Majestic Warrior), a distant third to Untapable (Tapit) in the GIII Rachel Alexandra S. in the winter of 2014, was outclassed in a pair of Grade III tries against her fellow sophomore fillies, but came to hand late in the season, with victories in the rained-off Indiana Grand S. and an impressive 5 1/4-length success in the Remington Park Oaks. Favored when a wide-trip third behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Cassatt (Tapit) in the Zia Park Oaks last November, she finished with interest to be beaten 3/4 of a length into third behind that Fox Hill Farms rival when last seen in the Houston Ladies’ Classic S. Jan. 24. Shanon Nicole makes her first appearance for Sierra Farm and trainer Jim Corrigan, who has won with three of his 10 previous starters off this sort of layoff.

‘Rising Star’ Gold Medal Dancer (Medaglia d’Oro) also has form through Untapable, having taken down her colors by a half-length in the GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn Mar. 14 before checking in third to the Eclipse Award winner in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 10. A good third to Molly Morgan (Ghostzapper) in this track’s GI La Troienne S. May 1, the Abercrombie homebred was nowhere to be found in the GII Fleur de Lis H., finishing a well-beaten sixth under the lights June 13.

Birdatthewire (Summer Bird) makes her first appearance since a never-nearer fifth to Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) in the GI Kentucky Oaks at this venue May 1. Heroine of the seven-furlong GII Forward Gal S. at Gulfstream Jan. 24, the bay was against a speed bias and tiring strip in her next two, coming from well off the speed to miss by a neck in the GII Davona Dale S. over this trip Feb. 21 before annexing the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Mar. 28.