Edited from a Colonial Downs releaseGrade I winner Dress To Thrill will take on 10 rivals in what looks to be a strong edition of the $200,000 All Along Breeders' Cup (gr. IIIT) at Colonial Downs on Saturday July 12. Run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, the All Along joins the $500,000 Virginia Derby and the $50,000 "Zeke" Ferguson Memorial Steeplechase on Colonial's richest day of racing.
Moyglare Stud's Dress To Thrill was brought to America last fall riding a four race win streak in Europe. The Danehill filly was 8th, beaten 5 1/4 lengths, in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) while racing against older males. In her next start she returned to her own division and defeated champion Golden Apples in the $500,000 Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park in December. In her only start of 2003, Dress To Thrill weakened to fifth in the grade I Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap in May. Trainer Christophe Clemente has given the mount to Edgar Prado.
Likely second favorite Carib Lady is another European import with a graded stakes win in America. The Sadler's Wells filly has only three starts in the U.S., including a win the $100,000 Gallorette Handicap (gr. IIIT). Carib Lady was most recently a well-beaten sixth in the Just A Game Breeders' Cup (gr. IIIT) on a very soft turf course at Pimlico. The Todd Pletcher trainee will break from post 10.
Stronach Stables' Golden Corona will try the All Along again, after losing by a head in the 2002 edition. The 5-year-old Gulch mare has not been better than third since, but was beaten by just over a length by Riskaverse in a Belmont allowance last out. Golden Corona has been transferred to Justin Nixon's barn since last year's All Along. Mario Pino will ride from post six.
Lady Linda faded to fourth behind Carib Lady in The Gallorette, but has rebounded since with an easy win in an allowance here on June 22nd. The Torrential mare is six for 16 lifetime on the turf for owner Domino Stud and trainer Mary Eppler. Lady Linda will be ridden by meet-leading jockey Ryan Fogelsonger.
Virginia-bred Class Yankee is the local hope. The Lilith Boucher trainee won two Virginia-bred stakes on the Colonial turf in 2001. Owned and bred by Mede Cahaba Stable, Class Yankee has not won since, but has two seconds from four starts. In her seasonal bow, the Northern Baby mare was a late-closing second in an allowance here under regular rider Richard Boucher.
The field for the $200,000 All Along Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT), run over nine furlongs on the turf. All runners will carry 117 pounds:
PP, Horse, Jockey, Morning line odds
1--Silent Crystal, Pat Day, 10-1
2--New Economy, no rider, 10-1
3--Class Yankee, Richard Boucher, 20-1
4--Bail Bond, Enrique Jurado, 30-1
5--Dress To Thrill, Edgar Prado, 9-5
6--Golden Corona, Mario Pino, 5-1
7--Cruise Along, Horacio Karamanos, 15-1
8--Lady of the Future, Jeremy Rose, 15-1
9--Lady Linda, Ryan Fogelsonger, 6-1
10--Carib Lady, no rider, 9-2
11--Brandala, no rider, 20-1
