Making her first start of the season, grade I winner Intercontinental heads a stellar field of nine fillies and mares ready to contest Sunday's $200,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IIIT), going 1 1/16 miles over the Keeneland turf course.
Intercontinental, trained by Bobby Frankel, won the 2004 edition of the Jenny Wiley by a length over Ocean Drive.
In addition to the Jenny Wiley, Intercontinental won the Matriarch (gr. IT) and the Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) last year.
The 5-year-old daughter of Danehill has earned $781,263 with a career record of 8-2-3 from 15 starts.
Jockey Jerry Bailey will don the pale green, pink and white silks of Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farm.
On paper, Intercontinental's main competition figures to be the Todd Pletcher-trained River Belle. The 5-year-old daughter of Lahib is a consistent and classy mare owned by Team Valor Stables, Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, and Green Lantern Stables.
River Belle won the Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs to end her 2004 campaign. She finished fifth in her first start of the season in the March 13 Honey Fox Handicap (gr. IIIT). Jockey John Velazquez has the call.
Another tough foe will be Lael Stable's High Court, who has had two races for trainer Michael Matz this year and should be set for a top effort. She finished third in the Feb. 12 Suwannee River Handicap (gr. IIIT) and was fourth in The Very One Handicap (gr. IIIT), both at Gulfstream Park.
A group I winner in Brazil, High Court should be closing well in the stretch under jockey Robby Albarado.
Grade II winner Katdogawn should also draw plenty of attention while making her Keeneland debut. The 5-year-old daughter of Bahhare, trained by Jim Cassidy for Jim Ford, John Cuchna, and Deron Pearson, began the year with a third-place effort in the Jan. 27 Tuzla Handicap and most recently was second in the March 20 Santa Ana Handicap (gr. IIT).
Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IIIT), $200,000, fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles, turf, Keeneland, Sunday, April 17PP -- Horse (Jockey, weight)
1-- River Belle (John Velazquez, 123)
2-- Intercontinental (Jerry Bailey, 123)
3-- Jacqui's Promise (Javier Castellano, 117)
4-- Sister Star (Brice Blanc, 117)
5-- Sister Swank (Corey Lanerie, 117)
6-- Delta Princess (Cornelio Velasquez, 117)
7-- Katdogawn (Corey Nakatani, 117)
8-- My Dear Lady (Edgar Prado, 117)
9-- High Court (Robby Albarado, 117)
