It looks to be G City Gal's time for victory as she tops a field of seven in the Sept. 8 Endine Stakes (gr. III) for fillies and mares at Delaware Park.
Though she has yet to notch her first black-type score, the 4-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality has hit the board in eight stakes on the East Coast circuit the last two years.
In her most recent effort, G City Gal, owned by Jeffrey Cooper and Johno Kabbendijan's Circle C Group Stables, ran third in the Honorable Miss Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Aug. 3. Under the care of Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, the Kentucky-bred also ran third in the Princess Rooney Stakes (gr. I) at Calder Race Course July 7.
G City Gal finished in the money in six stakes last year, including the Azalea Breeders' Cup Stakes at Calder, Victory Ride Stakes at Saratoga, Safely Kept Breeders' Cup Stakes at Laurel Park, and Adena Stallions' Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course (all gr. III). The bay filly sports a career record of 3-4-4 from 12 starts, with earnings of $282,393.
Sure to provide some competition for G City Gal are grade III victors Silmaril and Sheets.
By far the most seasoned runner in the field with 32 starts under her girth, 6-year-old Silmaril won the 2005 Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. III), while Sheets took the July 7 Azalea Breeders' Cup Stakes at Calder. Christopher Grove trains Silmaril, while Thomas Smith will saddle Sheets for the Endine.
Rounding out the field are stakes winners Sugar Swirl, Akronism, and Ticket to Seattle; and stakes-placed Cajun Mistress.
Endine Handicap (gr. III), $200,000, Sept. 8, fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up, six furlongs, approx. post 3:54 p.m. EDT
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey, ML Odds
1. Sugar Swirl, 121, TBA, 5-2
2. Akronism, 117, Stewart Elliott, 6-1
3. Ticket to Seattle, 117, Kendrick Carmouche, 8-1
4. G City Gal, 117, Ramon Dominguez, 9-5
5. Cajun Mistress, 117, Carlos Marquez, Jr.
6. Silmaril, 121, Jeremy Rose, 8-1
7. Sheets, 119, Eddie Castro, 7-2