Storm Flag Flying Eyes Forward Gal
By, John Asher

KENTUCKY OAKS 129 HEADLINES:

• Lady Tak To Skip FG's Silverbulletday
  
• Dixie Belle is Oaklawn Park Opener

Southeast -- Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I) winner Storm Flag Flying, the regally-bred filly who was named this week as America's champion 2-year-old female of 2002, could make her anticipated return to racing in the $100,000 Forwsard Gal (GIII) at Gulfstream Park on March 14.

Trainer Shug McGaughey has been training Storm Flag Flying at Payson Park in Indiantown, Fla. and will soon join McGaughey's stable at Gulfstream.

"I intend to bring her back slowly," he said. "The most likely is the Forward Gal because they run it at seven furlongs. They run the Bonnie Miss (Grade II at 1 1/8 miles) on the same day, but she probably won't be ready for it."

Central -- Trainer Steve Asmussen has decided on a change in the racing schedule for Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's unbeaten Lady Tak, an easy winner in her two-turn debut in last week's Tiffany Lass at the Fair Grounds.

Asmussen told the Daily Racing Form that the filly came out of her fourth consecutive victory in "great shape," but will skip the $150,000 Silverbulletday (GIII) on Feb. 15. Lady Tak will now train up to the $350,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) on March 8 and stablemate Souris will pinch-hit for Asmussen in the Silverbulletday.

Mike Rutherford's stakes-placed Jody's Deelite will bid for her first stakes victory on Friday in the $50,000 Dixie Belle Stakes, the featured event on the weather-delayed opening day card at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Jockey Shane Sellers will travel from the Fair Grounds to ride the Dallas Stewart-trained Jody's Deelite, the 7-2 second choice in the field of 11 fillies. Tracy Farmer's Kentucky invader Wildcat Annie, winner of the Gowell Stakes at Turfway Park for trainer Bernie Flint, is the 5-2 morning line favorite.

West -- Dennis Weir's Sun Devil Stakes winner Bertrando's Dare will lead local fillies against California invaders in Saturday's $75,000 Arizona Oaks at Turf Paradise in Phoenix.

The field for the 1 1/16-mile race also includes Arch Lady and Our Game Plan, the 2-3 finishers in the Sun Devil.

A pair of California invaders from Everest Stable and the barn of trainer Nick Canani may pose the biggest threat to the home forces. The most accomplished is Harbor Blues, who finished fourth to Atlantic Ocean in the recent Santa Ysabel (GIII) at Santa Anita. The daughter of Petionville will be ridden by Iggy Puglisi and will be joined in the starting gate by Island Fashion, an unraced filly by the same sire scheduled to be ridden by David Flores.

East -- Susan Shipp and Cindy Polk's Coquettish is a strong favorite to defeat eight rivals in the $60,000 Jameela stakes for Maryland-bred 3-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.

The Graham Motion-trained daughter of Not For Love finished seventh in her August debut at Delaware Park, but has since reeled off three consecutive victories. Her most recent win was a three-length romp in the 1 1/8-mile Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship at Laurel on Dec. 31. Regular rider Ramon Dominguez will ride the 3-2 morning line favorite.

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