Enliven draws the rail in Demoiselle

Nov 28, 2018 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Second best to longshot Oxy Lady in last month's Tempted (G3), Enliven is the likely choice in Saturday's $250,000 Demoiselle (G2) over one, 1 1/8-mile lap of the Aqueduct oval.

The Demoiselle is a Road to the Kentucky Oaks series prep, awarding qualifying points of 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.

A maiden winner second out going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park, Enliven finished five lengths behind Oxy Lady in the one-mile Tempted, but was seven lengths clear of her next closest rival. A homebred campaigned by Godolphin, she's by Hall of Famer Ghostzapper and out of the multiple Grade 1-winning It's Tricky.

'She's doing well, so we hope she likes two turns; I think she will,' said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. 'She just got her butt kicked in her last race, but that filly's not back in. She's doing very well and I don't think the distance will be an issue.

'She's out of It's Tricky and a half to (multiple graded stakes winner) Enticed, so it'd be nice to win a stake. We already got black type last time. Now, we'd really like to win one.'

Molto Bella was a 26-1 outsider when she finished second best to Mother Mother in the $103,000 Rags to Riches Stakes on opening day of the Churchill Downs fall meet. The Ian Wilkes-trained daughter of Violence has finished second in her last two following a maiden-breaking effort at Ellis Park in July.

The Demoiselle will mark the stakes debut for the other five fillies in the field. The regally-bred Jennifer's Dream, by Medaglia d'Oro and out of Grade 1 winner Joyful Victory, has a win and a second from two starts at Laurel for John Servis. Stepping up following maiden wins at Belmont and Churchill, respectively, are Filly Joel and Positive Spirit.

The Demoiselle was won last year by Wonder Gadot, who finished a close second to Monomoy Girl in this year's Kentucky Oaks (G1). The last Demoiselle winner to win the Oaks was Ashado back in 2003.

The Demoiselle can be watched and wagered on at TwinSpires.com.