Halfbridled, Mandella Still Need A Rider
FLORIDA - It is difficult to determine whether any Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) contenders might have emerged from Saturday's Herecomesthebride (GIII) at Gulfstream Park, but it may have produced a future turf star.
The Linda Rice-trained Lucifer's Stone rallied under jockey Jose Santos capture the "about" 1 1/8 mile contest on the grass by a half-length over Dynamia.
Four Oaks nominees had been entered in the Herecomesthebride, but only two made it into the starting gate. The best effort from that pair was turned in by Vous as the Tim Hills-trained daughter of Wild Rush closed from 10th to finish fifth. The other Oaks nominee, Cold Wynnter, tired and finished seventh.
In other Oaks news from Florida, trainer Frank Brothers said that Bruce Lunsford's Madcap Escapade, who made Gulfstream Park's recent Old Hat her second authoritative win in as many races, would be pointed to the seven-furlong Stonerside Forward Gal (GII) on March 13 at Gulfstream. Brothers told the Daily Racing Form that he had considered running the daughter of Hennessy in Saturday's 1 1/8 mile Bonnie Miss (GII), but elected to keep Lunsford's filly running at a shorter distance for now.
If all goes well in the Stonerside Forward Gal, Brothers is considering a run Keeneland's Ashland (GI) as a final Kentucky Oaks prep for Madcap Escapade. She was won her two races by a combined 21 ¾ lengths and blistered three-quarters of a mile in 1:08.85 in winning the Old Hat.
NEW YORK - The upset of the weekend occurred on Saturday at Aqueduct as Dogwood Stables' Fond stunned seven rivals in the $75,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
The George Weaver-trained daughter of Old Trieste was the longest shot in the race at 21-1, but she was hustled to the lead by jockey Aaron Gryder and cruised to a 1 3/4-length victory. The fast closing Taittinger Rose nipped Showmesomelove at the wire for the runner-up spot.
Favored Mistda made a run at Fond on the far turn, but tired and finished fifth.
Fond, who notched her second stakes win of the season, was not among the 145 fillies nominated to the Kentucky Oaks, but she could be made a supplemental entry for a fee of $25,000. The only Oaks-eligible fillies in the Busher were Taittinger Rose and Exclusively Wild, who finished last.
CALIFORNIA - Her season debut in the Santa Anita Oaks (GI) is just two weeks away and reigning 2-year-old filly champion Halfbridled and trainer Richard Mandella are still searching for a jockey.
Julie Krone was aboard the Unbridled filly for her win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), but she is recovering from broken ribs and is not expected to be ready to ride in the March 13 Oaks. Mandella said on Sunday that replacement rider would likely be from the Southern California circuit.
ARKANSAS -- The top three finishers in Oaklawn Park's one-mile Martha Washington Stakes -- Turn To Lass, All Electric and Yoursmineours -- are expected to meet again on Saturday in the $75,000 Honeybee at the Hot Springs, Ark. track. Trainer John Servis, who saddled unbeaten Smarty Jones to win last weekend's Southwest, is expected to enter a pair in the 1 1/16-mile race in Stephan's Angel and Foolishly.
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