Quality Over Quantity in the Ashland

When Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) parlayed a victory in GI Central Bank Ashland S. into another in the GI Kentucky Oaks a month later, she became the first winner of Keeneland's 3-year-old spring filly centerpiece to follow up beneath the Twin Spires since Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy) completed the double back in 1999. Saturday's 79th running of the 8 1/2-furlong test drew just five sophomore fillies, but a case can be made for any of the top three–each a TDN Rising Star–to be a factor not only in Lexington, but also in Louisville on the first Friday in May as well.

Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss) puts her undefeated record on the line in the Ashland, having done nary one thing wrong in her four trips to the post to date. Accorded Rising Star status after thrashing five others in Laurel's Gin Talking S. Dec. 5, the bay studder-stepped away from the gates in the GII Forward Gal S. at Gulfstream Park Jan. 30, but it proved something of a blessing in disguise, as she was forced to make a run from off the pace before streaking away to score by 5 1/2 lengths. She stretched out to the one-turn mile for her latest, but the result was her most impressive yet, a seven-length tour-de-force in the GII Davona Dale S. Feb. 27 in which she rated kindly for Javier Castellano, took over at will and ran out a professional winner. The Maryland-bred could get a similar trip from the three hole Saturday.

“Post position doesn't make a lot of difference with five horses,” opined John Servis, who trains Cathryn Sophia for Chuck Zacney's Cash Is King LLC. “She worked super here Sunday [4f, :48 1/5, 5/37] and likes the track. This will be her first time going two turns and should she get the job done, it would give her a lot of confidence going into the Kentucky Oaks. And me, too.”

Three Chimneys Farm, along with their partners Winchell Thoroughbreds, goes to Louisville with a live chance in the GI Kentucky Derby in the form of Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) and they could have a formidable Oaks candidate with Rising Star Carina Mia (Malibu Moon). One of two rivals in the Ashland with a win over the track to her credit, the $410,000 Keeneland September graduate sat up on a hot pace and rocketed home to graduate by 9 3/4 lengths in the lead-up to Breeders' Cup weekend last Oct. 29 and followed that with a pillar-to-post success in the GII Golden Rod S. in the Churchill slop Nov. 28. Despite having shown sharp early speed in those three previous starts, might there be a change in tactics in the Ashland?

“It will be interesting. Carina Mia has matured a little bit and learned how to settle,” reported Three Chimneys's Case Clay. “She's run on the lead every time, but with only five horses it will be interesting to see who sets the pace. She likes this track and really kind of floated over it [3f, 35.20 Apr. 5, the fastest of 13 moves at the distance]. Cathryn Sophia and Rachel's Valentina will be very tough to beat but she's training really well. She hasn't run this year so this will be a test.”

Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini) also makes her seasonal reappearance in the Ashland. The homebred daughter of 2009 Oaks winner and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) gave her dam one of two spectacular maiden winners at Saratoga last summer and backed up that performance with a one-length victory in the GI Spinaway S. Off nearly two months thereafter, she did her best to run with fellow Rising Star Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31, but was no match late and settled for a clear runner-up effort. Florent Geroux has the call in the Ashland for trainer Todd Pletcher.