Grade I winner Film Maker makes her first start since a dynamite runner-up showing in last fall's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) when she faces eight rivals in the $100,000 Gallorette Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Pimlico Saturday.
To be ridden by Jerry Bailey for trainer Graham Motion, Film Maker carries top weight of 121 pounds, spotting her opponents from four to nine pounds in the 1 1/16-mile event for fillies and mares.
The 5-year-old
Dynaformer mare won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (gr. IT) at Keeneland in October 2003. A winner of one of six starts since then, she concluded the 2004 season with a tremendous effort at Lone Star Park. Film Maker finished just 1 1/2 lengths behind last year's female turf champion, the European star Ouija Board, while overlooked at odds of 16-1.
Courtlandt Farms' Film Maker has a record of 5-4-4 in 16 starts with earnings of $930,290. She ran second, beaten by a half-length by Ocean Drive, in last year's Gallorette.
If Film Maker needs a race, the 4-year-old English-bred Briviesca could be the one to beat. The Bill Mott-trained Peintre Celebre filly disappointed when fourth as the 3-2 favorite in the 1 1/2-mile Orchid Handicap (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park in her last start April 2. Prior to that, she missed by a neck while finishing second to Honey Ryder in the 1 3/8-mile Very One (gr. IIIT) over the same course.
Ramon Dominguez, who replaces Bailey, will ride Briviesca for the first time. They receive six pounds from the favorite.
The Barclay Tagg-conditioned Changing World comes off a second-place finish, beaten by a neck as the favorite in the Beaugay Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Aqueduct April 30 at the Gallorette distance. Regular rider Edgar Prado has the mount.
Path of Thunder brings a three-race winning streak into her first attempt in a graded stakes. The Todd Pletcher-trained daughter of
Thunder Gulch, who will be ridden by John Velazquez, is coming off a 3 3/4-length win in a classified allowance on the Keeneland turf April 14.
$100,000 Gallorette Handicap (gr. IIIT, 2:06 p.m.), fillies & mares 3 & up, 1 1/16 miles (turf)PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, M/L Odds
1. Gelli (KY), no rider, 113, 30/1
2. Dynamia (KY), Rafael Bejarano, 112, 8/1
3. Path of Thunder (KY), John R. Velazquez, 115, 9/2
4. Briviesca (GB), Ramon A. Dominguez, 115, 7/2
5. Feelin' the Breeze (MD), Jozbin Z. Santana, 112, 20/1
6. Changing World (FL), Edgar S. Prado, 117, 4/1
7. Film Maker (KY), Jerry D. Bailey, 121, 8/5
8. Art Fan (KY), Ryan Fogelsonger, 113, 15/1
9. Humoristic (KY), Steve D. Hamilton, 112, 20/1
