Lewis Lakin’s Pure Clan, unbeaten in three career starts, will attempt to expand her resume with a grade II victory when she faces eight 2-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24 with Julian Leparoux in the irons.
Pure Clan, trained by Bob Holthus, was the 1 ¼-length winner of the Pocahontas Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill on Oct. 28. The Pure Prize filly posted a 1 3/4-length win in an allowance over the turf at Keeneland on Oct. 10 after winning her maiden debut, also on turf, by an impressive 7 3/4 lengths at Ellis Park.
Trainer Bobby Frankel sends out the only other unbeaten horse in the field – Juddmonte Farms’ Turn Away, an impressive 9 ¼-length winner in her maiden debut at Churchilll on Oct. 28. Making her second career start, the Empire Maker filly gets the services of jockey Rafael Bejarano, who returns from his new winter base in California to accept the riding assignment.
The game Sunday Holiday, third in the Tempted Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct on Oct. 28 following a third-place finish to Indian Blessing in the Oct. 6 Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, will attempt the Churchill turf for the first time. Trainer Bill Mott saddles the daughter of Sunday Break for Zayat Stables.
Also of interest is the Ken McPeek-trained C J’s Leelee, a Mizzen Mast filly who comes into the race off a 4 ¼-length win in an October 28 allowance race at Churchill, and the Gary Hartlage-trained French Kiss, a Hussonet filly who was the 6 ¾-length winner of her last start on the same date.
Greenhaven Lake, Morakami, and Minewander complete the field.
$250,000 Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II, race 9, approximate post 3:28 p.m.) 1 1/16-miles for 2-year-old fillies, dirt
*All carry 119 pounds
PP, Horse, Jockey
1. Pure Clan, Julien R. Leparoux
2. Greenhaven Lake, John McKee
3. Turn Away, Rafael Bejarano
4. C J's Leelee, Robby Albarado
5. Sunday Holiday, Kent J. Desormeaux
6. Morakami, Shaun Bridgmohan
7. Minewander, Larry Melancon
8. French Kiss, Joe M. Johnson
