The $100,000 Honey Fox Handicap (gr. III), which goes as the 10th event on an 11-race card, drew a field of 11 fillies and mares, including some who will be eligible to come back in the $350,000 Franks Farm Filly & Mare Turf, a Sunshine Millions event to be run Saturday, Jan. 25.
A field of nine 3-year-old fillies will contest the $65,000 Dame Mysterieuse Stakes, which goes as the fifth race. The Dame Mysterieuse is the first race of the day's Pick 6, which will have a guaranteed pool of $100,000. The $2 bet covers races five through 10. The Honey Fox brings out an exceptional field of fillies and mares, including two from the powerful Christophe Clement-trained stable and three from Marty Wolfson's strong barn. However, the role of favorite could fall to the Steve Flint-trained Allamerican Bertie, a graded stakes winner on dirt who whistled in her only grass start and has been working up a storm at Gulfstream recently. Allamerican Bertie, owned by Elaine, Richard and Bertram Klein, won the Delaware Oaks (gr. III) last year and was second in the Grade I Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. The filly by Quiet American made her turf debut at Calder on Nov. 7 and took to the green immediately, scoring by eight lengths. She won the Grade II Falls City Handicap at Churchill in her last outing. In her last two workouts at Gulfstream, Allamerican Bertie zipped five furlongs in :57 3/5 on Dec. 20 and the same distance in :58 3/5 on Dec. 29.
Pat Day, who has been aboard in both her last two wins, rides Allamerican Bertie at 116. Clement, whose horses are always highly regarded on the grass, sends out Haras du Mezeray's Amonita and Leigh Family Stable's Calista. Amonita has won two of her three starts since arriving in the U.S. last summer. Jerry Bailey, who was aboard when the mare won the Snazzle Dazzle Handicap at Calder last out on Dec. 15, has the mount. Jose Santos rides Calista, who won the Canadian Handicap (G2) at Woodbine in her most recent start.Wolfson sends out a trio in M-2 Stable's Laurica, Harold Williams' Mimi's Tizzy and Stud El Aguila's Abuela Esther. The trainer said he would likely make the California-bred Mimi's Tizzy and the Florida-bred Laurica eligible for the Sunshine Millions race if they perform well Sunday. Edgar Prado rides Laurica, with Rene Douglas on Mimi's Tizzy and M.R. Cruz on Abuela Esther.Mark Hennig sends out a worthy lass in Lee Lewis' Mystic Lady, a stakes winner on turf and dirt. The 5-year-old mare took the Banshee Breeze Handicap on the main track here last year. John Velazquez rides.
Tim Rosin's Notable Craft is already nominated to the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf. The Kathy Mongeon-trained mare was second to Amonita in the Snazzle Dazzle last out. Rosemary Homeister Jr. has the mount.The others entered are Brian Klatsky's Remediate, Cornelio Velasquez; Jaime Carrion's Wander Mom, Eibar Coa; and D. Mounts' San Dare. In the Dame Mysterieuse, a five-furlong event for sophomore fillies, Allen Jerkens sends out a strong performer in J.V. Shields Jr.'s House Party, a French Deputy miss who broke her maiden at Aqueduct in November, then ran second in the Grade 3 Valley Stream Stakes in her most recent start. Jerry Bailey has the mount, assuring House Party will draw plenty of attention. Main rivals include the Bill Mott-trained Something Silver, who aired in her last start at Calder, and Lavender Lass, who ran second in the Silver Bells Stakes at Calder last out for trainer Bill White.