Mezzo Soprano Soars In Dubai Guineas
Southeast -- After a trio
of brilliant performances
last fall in Kentucky, the Carl Nafzger-trained My Boston Gal finished a
nonthreatening fifth to the rapidly improving Yell when she made her
3-year-old debut in the Davona Dale (GII) on Feb. 23 at Gulfstream Park.
My Boston Gal was found to have suffered that day from a throat
problem that restricted her breathing in that loss. She will seek
redemption on Friday afternoon in Gulfstream's $200,000 Bonnie Miss
Stakes (GII) at 1 1/16-miles. "I knew something was wrong when
she ran like that," Nafzger said. "I like her even better now that I
know about the problem. It's gone and she's ready."
My Boston Gal, who is owned by Chester Porter, Randall Bloch and
Phil Milner, gets a new jockey in the Bonnie Miss as Pat Day replaces
Calvin Borel. Nafzger will also saddle Alcibiades (GII) winner Westerly
Breeze in the Bonnie Miss.
Davona Dale runner-up Ivanavinalot is the 5-2 morning line
choice in the race, but she was cross-entered in Sunday's Florida Oaks
(GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs. Ebony Breeze (3-1) and Spin Control (4-1)
are also major contenders.
Meanwhile, the $100,000 Stonerside Forward Gal Stakes (GIII) on
the Bonnie Miss undercard attracted a field of eight 3-year-old fillies
that includes the 1-2-3 finishers in the Feb. 2 Old Hat Stakes at
Gulfstream. Joseph V. Shields, Jr.'s House Party, trained by the
legendary Allen Jerkens, defeated Chimichurri and Glorious Miss in the
Old Hat and is the 5-2 morning line favorite to repeat that feat in the
seven furlong Forward Gal.
n Ivanavinalot is the 7-5 morning line favorite in a field of
seven for Sunday's 1 1/16-mile Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs. If she
were not to run in the Bonnie Miss, Ebony Breeze and Dakota Light would
be favored in the $150,000 race.
Central -- Heiligbrodt Racing
Stable's Lady Tak, the unbeaten winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII),
will prep at Keeneland before she runs in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (GI)
at Churchill Downs. Trainer Steve Asmussen told the Daily
Racing Form that his filly would run next in the $500,000 Ashland (GI)
on April 5 at the Lexington, Ky. track. Asmussen said Lady Tak came out
of her Fair Grounds romp in "great shape."
West -- Robert and Beverly Lewis'
Santa Catarina returned to competition on Wednesday at Santa Anita with
an easy victory in a one-mile optional claiming allowance race.
Gary Stevens was aboard the Bob Baffert-trained daughter of
Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled as she competed for the first time since
her third-place finish to unbeaten champion Storm Flag Flying in the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).
Dubai-- Godolphin's French import
Mezzo Soprano, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, scored an easy three-length
victory over stablemate Gonfilia in the UAE One Thousand Guineas
Thursday at Nad Al Sheba. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Darshaan filly
won her only previous race last year for French trainer Andre Fabre.
"She is a super filly," said Godolphin's Simon Crisford. "She
won very well at Deauville last summer and is a lovely filly with a
bright future."
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