Central -- An impressive victory by Jamie Schloss and Ken Mahler’s Belle of Perintown in last fall’s Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs led trainer Eddie Kenneally to believe that she could emerge as a contender for the Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) and other top races for 3-year-old fillies.

It took the daughter of Dehere a little while to validate Kenneally’s faith, but she did that and more in an 8 1/2-length romp in Saturday’s $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes (GII) at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Belle of Perintown rallied from just off the pace, took charge in midstretch and quickly drew away for a dominating victory in the 1 1/16-mile prep for the track’s top race for 3-year-old fillies, the $300,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) on March 8. She won while under firm restraint by jockey Calvin Borel to end a frustrating two-race losing streak in which Belle of Perintown failed to threaten unbeaten My Boston Gal in the Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs and was beaten by 30 lengths by Lady Tak in last month’s Tiffany Lass at the Fair Grounds. She was compromised in the latter when she flipped in the starting gate just before the race.

“She was unbelievable, fantastic,” said Kenneally. “My filly has been training well to the race. I was just concerned with her mental state after the last race. But I think that question has been answered.”

The Bret Calhoun-trained entry of Afternoon Dreams and Rebridled Dreams ran a distant second and third to Belle of Perintown, who covered the distance in 1:44.48 and paid a generous $22.40 to win. Favored Allspice finished a dull fifth.

n Dr. K.K. Jayaraman’s homebred Explosive Beauty, winner of the Dixie Belle on opening day of the Oaklawn Park meet, heads a field of 11 3-year-old fillies in Monday’s $50,000 Martha Washington at the Hot Springs, Ark. track.

The Cole Norman-trained daughter of Proudest Romeo faces several of her Dixie Belle rivals and takes on a group of new shooters that includes Fair Grounds invaders Adopted Daughter, Perfect Wave and Run Sarah Run.

Southeast -- Trainer Carl Nafzger’s star 3-year-old fillies are ready to run this week -- he’s just not sure which Gulfstream Park race on Feb. 23 will mark the season debut of unbeaten Golden Rod (GII) winner My Boston Gal and Walmac Alcibiades (GII) winner Westerly Breeze.

The fillies will run -- but not against each other -- in either the $150,000 Davona Dale (GIII) or the $50,000 Charon.

East -- Charlotte C. Polin’s Ladyecho ($11.40) wore down the pace-setting Lizzy Cool in the stretch to score a mild upset win in the $75,000 Dearly Precious Stakes Saturday at New York’s Aqueduct.

The John Servis-trained daughter of 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner Alphabet Soup erased Lizzy Cool’s 5 1/2-length lead in the stretch and won by a length under jockey Oliver Castillo. Ladyecho won for the fourth time in eight races and covered six furlongs in 1:12.60. Reign of Tara was third and odds-on favorite Harford Ghost finished sixth.

West -- Longshot Long Term Wish ($30.40) rallied from eighth in a field of nine to win Saturday’s $112,500 Boo La Boo Stakes at Santa Anita. Alex Solis rode the Caesar Dominguez-trained winner, who defeated My Kai by neck. The favored Humorous Lady finished fourth in the field of 11 California-bred fillies.

Reminder-- The First Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is scheduled for April 3 - 6

Upcoming Kentucky Oaks Preps

Feb. 23	Davona Dale (GII)	Gulfstream	1 1/16 Miles
Mar. 8	Fair Grounds Oaks (GII)	Fair Grounds	1 1/16 Miles
	Santa Anita Oaks (GI)	Santa Anita	1 1/16 Miles

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