Town and Country Farm's Stopchargingmaria has been moving up the class ladder in stakes her entire career, beginning with grade III and then grade II victories, but the daughter of Tale of the Cat is now firmly embedded in grade I company, coming off wins in the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) and Alabama Stakes (gr. I), and second-place finishes in the more-recent Beldame Invitational Stakes (gr. I) and the Madison Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland in her 2015 debut April 4.
Dropping into the $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course May 15, Stopchargingmaria appears to hold a class edge over her 11 rivals, even with the presence of Alabama Stakes runner-up Joint Return, who is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Top Flight Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack for trainer John Servis, in which she was hampered by a slow pace.
Stopcharginmaria, trained by Todd Pletcher, drew post 2 and will have John Velazquez aboard.
Another filly with back class is the Graham Motion-trained Fortune Pearl, winner of last year's Delaware Oaks (gr. II) and fourth in the Alabama Stakes.
One filly in top recent form who should be respected for her early speed is Brenda's Way, who won an allowance/optional claimer by 5 3/4 lengths at Laurel Park and the state-bred Geisha Stakes by 10 1/4 lengths at Pimlico.
Another filly with good recent form is Before You Know It, the easy winner of an overnight stakes at Aqueduct before finishing a close second in the Top Flight Handicap.
Trainer Jim Cassidy ships in Yahilwa, who is coming off an impressive victory in the Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne Race Course. Her best effort before that was a fourth-place finish in the grade I Zenyatta Stakes behind Beholder.
Breaking on the rail for trainer George Weaver is Lunar Surge, who was second, beaten a head, in the Doubledogdare Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland.
Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 15, 2015, Race 10Entries: Allaire DuPont Distaff S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Lunar Surge (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 120 George Weaver - 2 2Stopchargingmaria (KY) John R. Velazquez 118 Todd A. Pletcher - 3 3Blue Violet (KY) Kerwin D. Clark 118 J. Larry Jones - 4 4Joint Return (KY) Kendrick Carmouche 118 John C. Servis - 5 5Fortune Pearl (KY) Rajiv Maragh 118 H. Graham Motion - 6 6Brenda's Way (MD) Jevian Toledo 118 Damon R. Dilodovico - 7 7Before You Know It (KY) Victor R. Carrasco 118 Claudio A. Gonzalez - 8 8Queen's Blade (KOR) Yomar Orlando Ortiz 118 Valora A. Testerman - 9 9Perique (KY) Trevor McCarthy 118 Hamilton A. Smith - 10 10Yahilwa (KY) Victor Espinoza 122 James M. Cassidy - 11 11Oasis At Midnight (KY) Daniel Centeno 118 Joseph F. Orseno - 12 12Celtic Katie (MD) Oscar G. Mancilla 118 Carlos A. Mancilla -
