Golden Marlin Tries Top Turf Fillies in Regret

Golden Marlin, winner of the Dogwood Stakes (gr. III) on the dirt in her most recent race, switches to the grass against favored Edgewood Stakes winner Forest Shadows and 10 other promising 3-year-old turf fillies in Saturday's $200,000-added Regret Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.

The purse for the race has been raised this year by $50,000 and the 2003 renewal will also be its longest. The Regret will be contested for the first time at the distance of 1 1/8-miles.

A major question to be answered by the Regret is whether Golden Marlin can transfer her strong main track form to the Matt Winn Turf Course. Owned by the William Glass and the Estate of Joe Famularo, the 3-year-old daughter of Marlin also won the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park and finished first in the Bourbonette Breeders' Cup, but was disqualified and placed second. The only turf race by the Greg Foley-trained filly was a fourth place finish behind Ocean Drive and Tangle over yielding ground in the $100,000-added Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland on April 18.

"She lost her only race on it, but I think she'll handle the grass," Foley said. "The fillies she finished behind at Keeneland might be the best turf fillies in the country."

Golden Marlin has a record of 3-2-1 in eight races and has earned $173,540.

There are no questions regarding the turf prowess of Phillips Racing Partnership and Pam Gartin's Forest Shadows, a daughter of Woodman whose victory by a neck over Regret rival Unbridled Femme in the $100,000 Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks Day preserved a perfect record in three races on the surface. The only loss for the Al Stall, Jr. trained filly came in her lone start on the dirt at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

"She's really just stumbled in on us every time she's ever run," said Stall. "Every race has been a surprise, so maybe she can do it again."

Jockey Larry Melancon will ride Forest Shadows, the tepid 3-1 favorite in the morning line.

Other promising Regret fillies include Morton Fink's Bakewell Tart, a minor stakes winner in Europe who will make her American racing debut for trainer Niall O'Callaghan, and Edmund Gann's Personal Legend, an 11 1/4-length maiden winner earlier in the meet who is now trained by Bobby Frankel.

$200,000-added Regret Stakes (gr. IIIT), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 mile on turf
PP. Horse (Weight), Jockey, ML Odds
1. Radiantly (114), Jason Lumpkins, 20-1
2. Keiai Sakura (116), Robby Albarado 10-1
3. Violet Eyed Diva (116), Rafael Bejarano, 50-1
4. Golden Marlin (114), Pat Day, 6-1
5. Forest Shadows (120), Larry Melancon, 3-1
6. Sand Springs (118), Mark Guidry, 4-1
7. Achnasheen (116), Cornelio Velasquez, 12-1
8. Personal Legend (116), Jerry Bailey, 9-2
9. Bakewell Tart (120), Lonnie Meche, 10-1
10. Aud (116), Brian Peck, 30-1
11. Dyna Da Wyna (116), Shane Sellers, 8-1
12. Unbridled Femme (114), John McKee, 12-1