Talented Sis City Seeking Ashland Glory

After a successful winter in Florida, Sis City is in Kentucky looking for greater glory. Winner of the Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) by 16 lengths, the daughter of Slew City Slew is among seven 3-year-old fillies scheduled to compete in Saturday's Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland. Sis City will have jockey Edgar Prado aboard when she breaks from the No. 4 post position for the 1 1/16-mile race, which is a major prep for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).

Owned by a partnership that includes Sanford Goldfarb and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, Sis City started her career in the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen while running for her breeder, Heligbrodt Racing Stable. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. claimed the bay filly at Saratoga in her third career race and she has been in his care ever since.

Sis City's efforts last year included victories in the Demoiselle (gr. II) and Mongo Queen Stakes, a third-place finish in the Frizette Stakes (gr. I), and a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). Her early February romp in the Davona Dale came in her first and only outing of 2005.

Among Sis City's challengers in the $500,000 Ashland will be California-based Sharp Lisa, undefeated this year with victories in the Las Virgenes (gr. I) and Santa Ynez (gr. II) Stakes. After running sixth in last year Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the daughter of Dixieland Band finished second to Splendid Blended in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I). Owned by J. Paul Reddam, Suarez Racing, and Mark Schlesinger, Sharp Lisa is the only grade I winner in the Ashland field.

The strong Ashland lineup also includes Stonerside Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) winner Letgomyecho, Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) winner Summerly, and Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up Runway Model, who scored last year at Keeneland in the Darley Aclibiades Stakes (gr. II). Stakes winner Memorette comes into the Ashland off a second-place finish to champion Sweet Catomine in the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I).

Keeneland - April 9th, 2005 - Race 9
Ashland S. - Grade: 1
Estimated Local Post Time: 5:15 PM
Age Restriction: Three Year Old
Sex: Fillies
Purse: $500,000
Distance: 1 1/16 Miles
Surface: Dirt
Post Horse Weight Jockey
1 Runway Model 121 Robby Albarado
2 Sharp Lisa 121 Garrett K. Gomez
3 Summerly 121 Gary L. Stevens
4 Sis City 121 Edgar S. Prado
5 Letgomyecho 121 Cornelio H. Velasquez
6 Memorette 121 Brice Blanc
7 Amazing Buy 121 Jorge F. Chavez