A solid field of 10 female turf specialists that includes recent Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IT) winner Daisy Devine has been entered in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) on May 5.
The one-mile turf test for fillies and mares is the eighth race on the Churchill Downs card highlighted by the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Trained by Andrew McKeever for James Miller, Daisy Devine has won all four grass starts. The daughter of Kafwain began her winning streak last fall at Keeneland in the Pin Oak Valley View (gr. IIIT) at 43-1 odds. At the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the filly won a pair of stakes, including the Mardi Gras Handicap in February. She will once again have the services of jockey James Graham, who has been aboard for the past three victories.
Another grade I winner in the field is Aruna, second in the 2011 Distaff Mile and the winner of Keeneland’s Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) on Polytrack. The 5-year-old daughter of Mr. Greeley finished fifth, only a length behind winner Perfect Shirl, in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). Trained by Graham Motion, Aruna finished sixth, less than four lenghts behind winner Daisy Devine, in the Jenny Wiley.
Glen Hill Farm’s Marketing Mix has one setback in five grass starts, a runner-up finish in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) at Keeneland last fall. Trained by Tom Proctor, Marketing Mix closed out her 2011 campaign with a victory in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT) over the Churchill Downs turf course.
Also in the field is Frank Jones Jr.’s 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Tapitsfly, who finished third in the 1 1/16-mile Wiley April 14 at Keeneland. Trained by Dale Romans, Tapitsfly ended a seven-race losing streak when she won the Honey Fox (gr. IIIT) in March at Gulfstream Park.
$200,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (gr. IIT, Race 8, 2:59 p.m.), Fillies & Mares, 4 & Up
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Heavenly Landing (KY), C J Lanerie, 118, 15-1
2. Hooh Why (FL), R Bejarano, 118, 12-1
3. Marketing Mix (KY), J R Leparoux, 120, 5-2
4. Tapitsfly (KY), R Albarado, 120, 5-1
5. Daisy Devine (KY), J Graham, 123, 5-1
6. Annabel Lee (FL), J K Court, 118, 50-1
7. Aruna (KY), R A Dominguez, 118, 7-2
8. City to City (KY), C S Nakatani, 120, 15-1
9. La Reine Lionne (KY), J Castellano, 118, 6-1
10. Hungry Island (KY), J. R Velazquez, 118, 6-1
