Bay to Bay, winner of last month's American One Thousand Guineas at Arlington Park, heads an evenly matched group of 10 3-year-old fillies in the $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the turf June 26 at Monmouth Park.
Trained by Brian Lynch for owner Robert Smithen, Bay to Bay also won last year's Natalma Stakes (Can-IIIT) on Woodbine's turf course and comes into the Boiling Springs as the only graded winner in the field. The Florida-bred daughter of Sligo Bay has been first or second in five starts since breaking her maiden over Woodbine's Polytrack in her second career outing.
Bay to Bay, who will be ridden in the 1 1/16-mile test for the first time by Alan Garcia, came from well off the pace to win the One Thousand Guineas May 22. She threaded her way between rivals and drew off late in an impressive display by 2 1/2 lengths. In her only other start this year, the bay filly ran a close second to Check the Label in Keeneland's Appalachian Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the grass April 15.
Well ahead of the field in earnings with $297,578, Bay to Bay must overcome the far outside post in the Boiling Springs, which is the ninth race on the program with a probable post of 4:52 p.m. EDT.
Strike it Rich, from the Christophe Clement barn for Waterville Lake Stable, comes off a front-running one-length tally as the 6-5 favorite in Monmouth's Little Silver Stakes May 30. She has back-to-back victories after taking a first-level allowance turf contest at Gulfstream Park five weeks prior to her first stakes triumph in the Little Silver. Garrett Gomez sticks with the gray/roan daughter of Unbridled's Song.
Also exiting the one-mile Little Silver are In the Rough, Elusive Temper and Great Gracie Dane, who were second, third and fourth, respectively.
George and Lori Hall's In the Rough, conditioned by Kelly Breen, won the grassy Coconut Grove Stakes at Gulfstream in February. The Stormy Atlantic lass came from mid-pack to defeat Check the Label by three-quarters of a length in that race.
A couple of recent Southern California shippers also help to make this an interesting affair.
Juddmonte Farms' Cosset began her career at Santa Anita this year with a pair of second-place runner-up efforts on the grass before trainer Bill Mott brought her to Belmont Park to score in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight May 16. Last early, the daughter of Mizzen Mast was steadied in traffic on the final turn but finished with courage to win by a head.
Also shipping east is Bobby Flay's Triple Cream, who finished just 1 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Evening Jewel while fourth at 22-1 odds in the Memorial Day Honeymoon Handicap (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park. Previously trained by David Hofmans, she is now with James Toner.
Patrick Biancone saddles Irish-bred Justaroundmidnight, a 3 1/4-length maiden winner at Monmouth in her first United States start June 13. It was also the Danehill Dancer filly's initial route try after five sprint races in her native country.
Lael Stables' Martita Sangrita may be coming to hand for trainer Michael Matz. The daughter of Johar won a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance at Delaware Park by four lengths May 17 for her first success against winners after five defeats.
$150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 9, 4:52 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Justaroundmidnight (IRE), J Bravo, 116, P L Biancone
2. Martita Sangrita (KY), J Rose, 116, M R Matz
3. Triple Cream (KY), E Castro, 116, J J Toner
4. Strike It Rich (KY), G K Gomez, 120, C Clement
5. Island Time (FL), C H Marquez Jr., 116, J Servis
6. Cosset (KY), J Lezcano, 116, W I Mott
7. Elusive Temper (KY), J Rocco Jr., 116, R W Werner
8. In the Rough (VA), P Lopez, 120, K J Breen
9. Great Gracie Dane (NY), E Trujillo, 116, D S Ryan
10. Bay to Bay (FL), A Garcia, 118, B A Lynch
Bay to Bay won the American One Thousand Guineas at Arlington Park in her most recent start.
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