Friendly Michelle to Return in Genuine Risk
Updated: Saturday, May 14, 2005 2:47 PM
Posted: Thursday, May 12, 2005 3:49 PM
Making her first start of the year, the Bob Baffert-trained Friendly Michelle leads an equally matched field of 10 fillies and mares entered for Saturday's $150,000 Genuine Risk Handicap (gr. II), going six furlongs at Belmont Park.
Friendly Michelle last raced in October 2004, finishing unplaced in the seven-furlong Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland. Before that, the daughter of
Artax, rung up three stakes wins at three different tracks going three different distances.
Her stakes wins include the 6 1/2-furlong Santa Paula at Santa Anita, the 7 1/2-furlong La Troienne (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, and six-furlong Prioress Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont.
Baffert conditions the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly for Ed Friendly and Mike Foster. Jockey John Velazquez gets the mount aboard the top weighted filly at 119 pounds. The pair will break from gate eight.
Elusive Diva will be looking for her third win from four attempts when jockey Jose Santos leads her to the gate. Elusive Diva will break from post one carrying 118 pounds.
Trainer Mark Glatt conditions the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of
Elusive Quality for Allen and Susan Branch and John and Doris Konecny.
Elusive Diva has stakes wins this year in the Wishing Well Handicap and the Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. III), both going 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita.
Virginia-bred Bank Audit is another filly not to overlook. The daughter of Wild Rush is entering the Genuine Risk off a disappointing fifth-place effort in the Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) where she stretched out to one mile.
Bank Audit began the year with a five-length win in the Interborough Handicap, going six furlongs, and followed that up with a two-length score in a six-furlong allowance optional claiming contest. Before the Bed o' Roses she notched a length win in the seven-furlong Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II).
Frank LaBoccetta Jr. conditions the filly for Robert Amendola. Jockey Noberto Arroyo Jr. gets the mount and will carry 117 pounds, breaking from gate seven.
The field for Saturday's $150,000 Genuine Risk Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park includes:
1-- Elusive Diva (Jose Santos, 118)
2-- Travelator (Jorge Chavez, 114)
3-- Forestier (Richard Migliore, 115)
4-- Forest Music (Jason Lumpkins, 115)
5-- Forty Moves (Mike Luzzi, 114)
6-- Sensibly Chic (Cornelio Velasquez, 115)
7-- Bank Audit (Noberto Arroyo, Jr., 117)
8-- Friendly Michelle (John Velazquez, 119)
9-- Lilah (Channing Hill, 117)
10-- Smokey Glacken (Edgar Prado, 116)
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