Stonerside Stable's Karen's Caper has a slight edge in Saturday's $150,000 Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) for fillies and mares going one mile on the Belmont Park turf.
The Noble Damsel, which drew a field of nine, is part of a strong stakes bill at Belmont Saturday that includes the Futurity (gr. II) for juveniles and the Matron (gr. I) for 2-year-old fillies.
Karen's Caper finished second to My Typhoon in Saratoga's Ballston Spa Handicap (gr. II) on Aug. 26. Trainer Bobby Frankel was very high on the filly earlier this year and kept his confidence in her despite losing first time out for him at 1-2 in a Spa second-level allowance.
Mauralakana, a French import for trainer Patrick Biancone, has group I experience in her native country. The 3-year-old finished sixth in the French Oaks (Fr-I) for previous trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.
Pommes Frites, the 118-pound high weight, appears to be the speed of the Noble Damsel and has won four of her last five starts. Her only defeat in that span came at the hands of top grass female Gorella, who was just able to beat her at the wire of the Just A Game (gr. IIT) on Belmont Stakes day.
The consistent Bright Abundance will try for her first win of 2006 after three straight runner-up finishes. The 5-year-old mare is the defending Noble Damsel champ after beating My Lordship by a half-length last year.
$150,000 Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT, Race 7, 4:08 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 Mile (Turf)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Mauralakana (FR), 112, Garrett K. Gomez
2. Safari Queen (ARG), 114, John R. Velazquez
3. Humoristic (KY), 115, Cornelio H. Velasquez
4. Pommes Frites (KY), 118, Jose A. Santos
5. Bright Abundance (KY), 116, Richard Migliore
6. Karen's Caper (KY), 116, Edgar S. Prado
7. His Beauty (NY), 112, Channing Hill
8. Prop Me Up (FL), 114, Joe Bravo
9. Sabellina (NY), 115, Javier Castellano
