Firecroft Draws Outside In Bourbonette
West -- Robert and Beverly Lewis'
Composure, one of the most exciting contenders for the 129th Kentucky
Oaks (Grade I) on May 2, suffered a leg injury and has been retired from
racing.
The Bob Baffert-trained daughter of Touch Gold scored a pair of
Grade I victories this year at Santa Anita in taking the Las Virgenes
and Santa Anita Oaks. She was also the runner-up to unbeaten champion
Storm Flag Flying in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) in October
at
Arlington Park.
The filly was found on Tuesday to have cracked a sesamoid bone
in her right front leg.
"She had some filling and it was tender," said Baffert. "We
X-rayed her, it showed a little crack in her sesamoid, so that's it.
The show's over."
Composure, who had been mentioned at one time as a possible
contender for the Kentucky Derby (GI), completed her career with a
record of 4-3-0 in eight races and earnings of $731,300.
Trainer Mel Stute, who found out this week that he is among
three trainers nominated for enshrinement this year in the National
Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, will attempt to add to his impressive
credentials on Sunday as he saddles the talented 3-year-old filly
Buffythecenterfold in the $75,000 Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita.
It will be the first race for Buffythecenterfold since her
seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She won the
Landaluce and Sorrento Stakes at two for Stute.
East -- Joseph Allen's Roar Emotion,
winner of the Demoiselle (GII), heads a field of six 3-year-old fillies
entered in Saturday's $100,000 Cicada (GIII) at Aqueduct.
Richard Migliore will ride the Carlos Martin-trained 8-5 morning
line favorite in the seven-furlong Cicada. Other major contenders
include Maryland invader Boxer Girl; Dearly Precious winner Ladyecho,
and Busanda winner Cyber Secret.
Central -- G. Watts
Humprhey's Firecroft heads a wide open field of 12 3-year-old fillies
entered in Saturday's $150,000 Bourbonette Breeders' Cup on the Lane's
End Stakes (GII) undercard at Turfway Park.
Firecroft, who is listed as the 4-1 morning line favorite, drew
the outside post and will be at a significant disadvantage in the
one-mile race. Jockey Pat Day will ride for trainer Rusty Arnold.
Another major contender is Golden Marlin, a 5-1 shot who will attempt to
give trainer Greg Foley a sweep of the day's major events. Foley also
trainers Lane's End contender Champali and Jason Lumpkins will ride both
horses for Foley.
Ogden Mills Phipps' unbeaten champion Storm Flag Flying heads a
list of 67 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 66th running of the
$500,000 Ashland Stakes (GI) at Keeneland on April 5.
Trainer Shug McGaughey is not expected to send Storm Flag Flying
to Keeneland for that race, but he is expected to saddle Claiborne Farm
and Adele Dilschneider's Yell, winner of the Davona Dale (GII), in the 1
1/16-mile Ashland.
The last filly to sweep the Ashland and Kentucky Oaks was Mike
Pegram's Silverbulletday in 1999.
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