Pontenuovo, a group III winner at Deauville last year, makes her United States debut for trainer Patrick Biancone in the $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the turf at Monmouth Park June 25.
The 3-year-old French-bred filly won once in four starts last year in France for trainer Yves de Nicolay, that coming in her second race, the Prix de Cabourg Turkey Jockey Club Stakes (Fr-III) last Aug. 1.
Bjorn Nielsen's daughter of Green Tune finished fourth in the Fred Darling Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Eng-III) at Newbury for trainer Roger Charlton April 16 in her only start thus far in 2011. She arrived in the Frenchman Biancone's barn last month and shows three workouts. She breezed five furlongs on turf in 1:01 3/5 in her most recent drill June 15.
Pontenuovo, to be ridden by Joe Bravo, will race with Lasix for the first time.
There are 10 sophomore fillies entered in a wide open Boiling Springs at 1 1/16 miles. The 10th race on the Monmouth card has an expected post time of 5:28 p.m. EDT.
Also making her stateside debut is the Irish-bred Janicellaine, now in the Roger Attfield barn for Three Chimneys Racing. The daughter of Beat Hollow had two starts in Britain, winning her her maiden debut last fall and returning May 17 with a third-place finish in a handicap stakes at Nottingham. Edgar Prado will ride the lightly-raced filly.
Starlight Racing's Artisanal brings a three-race winning streak to the Boiling Springs for trainer Todd Pletcher. She most recently captured Monmouth's one-mile Little Silver Stakes on grass by 1 1/2 lengths as the favorite May 29. That was the stakes debut for the daughter of More Than Ready . Chris DeCarlo has the mount on Artisanal, who drew the far outside post.
Also in the lineup is Florida shipper Salary Drive, the Little Silver runner-up who is trained by Edward Plesa Jr. for Joel Kligman.
The speedy Summer Soiree faded to 10th after setting a brisk pace in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) last time out. The War Front filly tries the turf for the first time for the Kentucky Derby winning team of trainer Graham Motion and owner Team Valor International.
Coco Ecolo and R Gypsy Gold are entered for the main track only.
$150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. III, Race 10, 5:28 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Salary Drive (KY), E Trujillo, 116, E Plesa Jr.
2. My Sunshine Gal (FL), K Carmouche, 118, D S Ryan
3. Hessonite (NY), C C Lopez, 118, D G Donk
4. Summer Soiree (KY), G Saez, 120, H G Motion
5. War Prospector (KY), C H Marquez Jr., 116, J C Vazquez
6. Pontenuovo (FR), J Bravo, 118, P L Biancone
7. Oak Marsh (KY), J Valdivia Jr., 116, M D Wolfson
8. Annabel Lee (FL), F Z Maysonett, 116, K D Schwartz
9. Janicellaine (IRE), E S Prado, 116, R L Attfield
10. Artisanal (KY), C P DeCarlo, 118, T A Pletcher
Main Track Only
11. Coco Ecolo (KY), E Trujillo, 116, K J Breen
12. R Gypsy Gold (KY), J Bravo, 116, T A Pletcher
Summer Soiree will compete against Pontenuovo.
Keeneland/Coady Photography