The Irish-bred broke her maiden in her second career start in her native country before being shipped across the pond. Her first start in the United States was a neck victory in the P. G. Johnson Stakes over Saratoga's turf course on August 29. The bay stepped up to graded stakes company next time out, capturing the Miss Grillo by 2 1/4 lengths and will retain the services of Javier Castellano.
Stakes victress Midnight Ballet will give it a go on the grass for the first time. The Tom Proctor-trained filly finished off the board in the Hollywood Starlet to close out her two-year-old campaign. She made her three-year-old bow in the Rachael Alexandra, finishing a distant seventh with Gary Stevens aboard, and he will be in the saddle again on Thursday.
Rusty Slipper, winner of an optional claimer over Tampa Bay's turf course, makes her first start outside of Florida for trainer Graham Motion. She crossed the wire fourth in the Florida Oaks back in February. Edgar Prado will pick up the mount.
Eden Prairie might be a sleeper in the race as she is the only one to have raced over the course before. The Neil Pessin trainee returns to Keeneland for the first time since breaking her maiden during last October's Fall Meet. She is exiting an optional claiming victory over the Fair Grounds turf course at the distance and will have Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons.
Other contenders include Unbelievable Dream, whose figures have improved in each of her three starts and most recently won an optional claimer by a neck over Gulfstream Park's turf course; Allen LaCombe Memorial Stakes runner-up To My Valentine; and Overheard, the third-place finisher in the LaCombe.
