Grade I winner Cat Moves, making her first start in seven months, is the 5-2 morning line favorite among a strong field of nine older fillies and mares for the $250,000 My Juliet Stakes at Philadelphia Park May 29.
The My Juliet, named for one of the track's all-time greats, is contested at six furlongs. The race goes off as the ninth on the program with a probable post of 3:50 p.m. EDT.
Edward Evans' 4-year-old homebred Cat Moves, from the Tony Dutrow barn, did not hit the track until April of last season but her impact was immediate. After winning her first two starts by open lengths, she went to New York and won the Prioress Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park July 4 by three-quarters of a length over her Evans-owned entry mate Light Green.
Cat Moves finished the year with a third in the Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga and a disappointing fifth-place effort in the Fitz Dixon Cotillion (gr. II) at Philly. Ramon Dominguez will ride the Tale of the Cat filly who carries top weight of 124 pounds in her 2010 debut.
Ready to test Cat Moves will be Zayat Stables' Heart Ashley (6-1), who set a wicked pace in the Prioress before fading to sixth. The 4-year-old Lion Heart filly was a two-time grade III winner last year, taking the Cicada last March at Aqueduct and the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in May. She has one start so far in 2010, winning a tough money allowance at Keeneland April 15. Eclipse Award-winning trainer Steve Asmussen has yet to name a rider.
Several others appear to have a big chance as well.
Trainer Doug O'Neill will send his Malibu Moon filly, Pinkarella, who is 5-1 on the early line. Owned by STD Stable and Flintridge Stable, Pinkerella is coming off a 6 1/2-length win in the $250,000 Sugar Maple Stakes at Charles Town Races & Slots April 17. Travis Dunkelberger is set to ride.
Joe Orseno saddles D'wild Ride for Silly Goose Racing Stables. The 5-year-old D'wildcat mare, also 5-1 on the morning line, is the biggest money earner in the field having banked better than $357,000. Daniel Centeno has the mount on D'wild Ride.
The top local hope is Jemilyn (5-1), a 5-year-old Good and Tough mare that ran well over the track in her last start, a 5 1/2-length win in the Foxy JG Stakes. Trainer Ramon Preciado, who with 24 wins through May 25 ranks fourth in the Philly Park trainer standings, has named Abel Mariano to ride.
$250,000 My Juliet Stakes (Race 9, 3:50 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 6 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, ML Odds
1. One Smokin' Lady (KY), A R Napravnik, 122, T F Ritchey, 9/2
2. Key Lime Baby (KY), J L Flores, 114, D Curry, 15/1
3. Pinkarella (KY), T L Dunkelberger, 122, D F O'Neill, 5/1
4. D'wild Ride (ON), D Centeno, 122, J F Orseno, 5/1
5. Trusty Temper (KY), J Shepherd, 122, R W Werner, 20/1
6. Cat Moves (VA), R A Dominguez, 124, A W Dutrow, 5/2
7. Heart Ashley (KY), no rider, 122, S M Asmussen, 6/1
8. Jemilyn (PA), A Mariano, 117, R Preciado, 5/1
9. Hold That Prospect (FL), J F Chavez, 122, G P Gullo, 10/1
Cat Moves makes her first start in seven months in the My Juliet Stakes.
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