She'll Be Doggone, unbeaten in her two starts, bids for her first stakes win April 10 as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the $100,000 Comely Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct.
Morris Bailey's daughter of Gone West is one of two entered by Tony Dutrow in the Comely, a one-turn mile race for 3-year-old fillies on the main track. Dutrow also entered Volare Cantare, owned by Susan Moore and M & M Thoroughbred Partners.
She’ll Be Doggone has posted both of her wins at Aqueduct, having broken her maiden going 6 1/2 furlongs over a muddy main track last November for trainer John Parisella. She returned in February with a 4 3/4-length victory over the inner track as the favorite in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance.
“She’s got tactical speed, and I believe she’ll appreciate the increased distance,” said Dutrow, who won the 2008 Comely with Sherine. “I think she’s better than just a winter winner.”
She'll Be Doggone drew post 4 and will be ridden by Edgar Prado.
Volare Cantare was an impressive 12-length maiden winner over the inner track at one mile, 70 yards on Jan. 8 in her second start. The Roman Ruler filly, a $70,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales last March, next finished third in the $100,000 OBS Championship for graduates of the sale.
“The day did not go well for her,” said Dutrow of her Feb. 15 effort. “She did not break well, and it didn’t get much better after that. She’s back at Aqueduct and we’ve very, very happy with her.”
Listed at 8-1, Volare Cantare will be ridden by Jose Espinoza from post 6.
Gainesway Stable's Touching Beauty, coming off a neck victory for trainer James Jerkens in a first-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park over seven furlongs March 14, is 3-1 on the morning line. The daughter of Tapit fetched $235,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old sale in February of last year. She broke her maiden at first asking at Saratoga last August and finished second to Awesome Maria in her next start, the Matron Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park.
Roman Chestnut, who was purchased privately following her victory in Aqueduct's Busher Stakes on Feb. 13, will be making her first start for new trainer David Duggan.
“We gave her some time off after the Busher,” said Duggan of Roman Chestnut, 15-1 on the morning line. “She’s had two good works. This is a step up for her, but she seems to improve with distance.”
Anchorage, the Busher runner-up from the Todd Pletcher barn, came back to finish third in the overnight Dreamy Mimi Stakes March 11. She will be seeking her first win since her maiden score last fall.
Also returning from back-to-back efforts in the Busher and the Dreamy Mimi is Speightful Affair, trained by Steve Asmussen. She was third as the beaten favorite in the former and second by a nose in the latter.
C C's Pal will be making her New York debut on the heels of a second-place finish in the Florida Oaks (gr. III) March 13. Ruthless winner Indian Burn comes off a belated third March 20 in the six-furlong Cicada Stakes (gr. III).
$100,000 Comely Stakes (gr. III, Race 9 4:50 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 Mile
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Indian Burn (KY), R Migliore, 118, J O Hertler
2. C C's Pal (FL), E Coa, 116, D S Ryan
3. Anchorage (KY), F Jara, 116, T A Pletcher
4. She'll Be Doggone (KY), E S Prado, 116, A W Dutrow
5. Roman Chestnut (MD), C Hill, 120, D P Duggan
6. Volare Cantare (KY), J L Espinoza, 116, A W Dutrow
7. Speightful Affair (ON), D Cohen, 116, S M Asmussen
8. Touching Beauty (KY), M J Luzzi, 116, J A Jerkens
Blinkers On: Anchorage