Clarence Scharbauer Jr.'s talented homebred Fiftyshadesofgold makes her graded stakes debut Aug. 11 at Saratoga Race Course, one of seven fillies entered for the $200,000 Adirondack Stakes (gr. II).
Along with stakes winners Thank You Marylou and Designer Legs, the 2-year-old Texas-bred daughter of My Golden Song will shoulder top weight of 122 pounds in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint.
A dominant winner of both a Lone Star Park maiden race May 24 and the June 22 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, Fiftyshadesofgold is the 7-5 favorite on the Adirondack morning line. Prepping for the grade II event, she impressed trainer Bret Calhoun with a :46.32 four-furlong breeze Aug. 4 at Saratoga, fastest of 69 moves at the distance on the day.
"She worked great," Calhoun said. "It was a little quicker than I would have liked, but it was visually impressive. She did it easily and she never took a deep breath afterward."
After breaking her maiden at home in Texas, the gray filly battled for the early lead in the Debutante, took over in upper stretch, and drew off to win by eight. In the Adirondack, she'll leave post 2 under jockey Corey Lanerie.
"She's very fast," Calhoun said. "What excites me the most is how she might be able to carry her speed. She has a high cruising speed and has a good mind. I was surprised she was that close to a hot pace in the Debutante, but she was able to put them away. I think everybody dreams of having a horse like that."
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Birdstone filly Thank You Marylou could prove contentious after winning the July 13 Tippett Stakes at Colonial Downs | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Colonial Downs, provided she transfers her form from the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint to dirt. The Virginia-bred runner has made just one career start, that a stakes-winning effort, for trainer Mike Maker before coming to this spot. Alan Garcia rides from post 3.
Valene Farm's Louisiana-bred Designer Legs is also an intriguing entrant making her first start for Dallas Stewart. The Graeme Hall filly is 2-for-2, and took the 5 1/2-furlong Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes at Prairie Meadows by half a length with a strong five-wide rally July 20 off a strong Canterbury Park maiden score on June 28. From the 5 hole, Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount.
Hop the Six has also earned stakes success for The Elkstone Group and trainer Ron Potts. The Artie Schiller filly took the July 27 White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park by 3 1/2 lengths after breaking her maiden June 10 at Presque Isle Downs at second asking. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado is in the irons from the far outside as part of a 120-pound impost.
Maiden winners Untapable, Who's In Town, and Charmed Hour complete the field. Who's in Town and Charmed Hour will run without Lasix.
$200,000 Adirondack (gr. II, Race 9, approximate post time 5:12 p.m. EDT), 2-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, Odds
1. Untapable (KY), R, Napravnik, 118, S Asmussen, 3-1
2. Fiftyshadesofgold (TX), C. Lanerie, 122, W Calhoun, 7-5
3. Thank You Marylou (VA), A. Garcia, 122, M Maker, 6-1
4. Who's in Town (MD), J. Rosario, 120, M Matz, 4-1
5. Designer Legs (LA), S. Bridgmohan, 122, D Stewart, 10-1
6. Charmed Hour (KY), J. Velazquez, 118, K McPeek, 12-1
7. Hop the Six (KY), E Prado, 120, R Potts, 15-1