Centaur Farms' homebred Redoubled Miss will defend her title against a field of six older fillies and mares in Saturday's $100,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap at Calder Race Course. The 6-year-old filly won last year's event by a nose over Grab Bag. She will break from the outside under jockey Eibar Coa, who has been aboard for her last three starts, including a victory in the Shocker T. Handicap, also at Calder. She placed third in the Stage Door Betty in 2002.
Conditioned by Ron Spatz, the Flordia-bred daughter of Adhocracy enters the 1 1/16 mile-event fresh off a five-length score in the My Melanie Stakes at Calder going the same distance. Earlier in 2004, she had a runner-up effort behind Sightseek in the Rampart Handicap (gr. II).
Redoubled Miss has won nine of 38 lifetime starts, with five stakes victories, and earnings of $623,839.
Set up to take the title from Redoubled Miss is Joseph Shields Jr.'s homebred Passing Shot, who placed third in the seven-furlong First Flight Handicap (gr. II) in her previous outing Oct. 30. Trained by Allen Jerkens, the 6-year-old daughter of
A. P. Indy has faired well in graded competition. The winner of the 2003 Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I), also won the 2004 Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) at a mile and came in second in the Shuvee Handicap (gr. II). She also took third in the Ogden Phipps (gr. I) and First Flight (gr. II) Handicaps last year.
Passing Shot will break from post five. Jose Santos, who was last aboard the mare for her Bed o' Roses win, has the mount.
Martin Cherry's Pampered Princess, who finished second to Redoubled Miss in the My Melanie in her last start, will break from post six under Eddie Castro. In 2004 the Martin Wolfson trainee took home stakes victories in the Wayward Lass, Solo Haina, and Precious Feather Stakes, the latter two at Calder.
Bred by Dr. and Mrs. R. Herman Playforth in Kentucky, the 5-year-old Pampered Princess, by
Indian Charlie, has won eight of 22 starts and earned $231,385.
Stage Door Betty Handicap, Calder Race Course, 1 1/16 miles, $100,000, fillies and mares three-years-old and up, Saturday, Jan. 1, estimated post time: 4:52 p.m. EDTPP – Horse, Weight, Jockey
1 – From Away, 114, Roberto Alvarado Jr.
2 – Shady Woman, 112, Manuel Aguilar
3 – Personal Legend, 116, Jerry Bailey
4 – Auntie Inda Attic, 111, Heberto Castillio Jr.
5 – Passing Shot, 117, Jose Santos
6 – Pampered Princess, 118, Eddie Castro
7 – Redoubled Miss, 117 Eibar Coa
