Sunday's $125,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III) over six furlongs at Keeneland has attracted a talented field of 11 distaffers, including defending champion Cat Cay.
A stout daughter of Pleasant Colony from the mare Cadillacing, Cat Cay has won a third of her 24 lifetime starts for trainer Shug McGaughey and banked nearly a half-million dollars in the process.
She closed from well off the pace in last year's event and drew away impressively to post a 7 1/2-length victory over Spanish Glitter. Pat Day, who almost always rides Cat Cay, will don the legendary black silks and cherry cap of Ogden Mills Phipps.
Southern Pride Stable's Don't Countess Out has had a spectacular year running in the Midwest. Trainer J. Larry Jones has taught the filly to rate and with a plethora of speed anticipated, she figures to be in the right spot. Terry Thompson has the call.
Multiple stakes-winner Sweet Nanette was fourth in the Ballerina (gr. I) at Saratoga last time out. The daughter of You and I captured the Saylorville at Prairie Meadows this year. Dallas Stewart trains Sweet Nanette for West Point Stable. Craig Perret will ride her.
Fuse It, owned by Frank and Barbara Rowell, is already stakes-placed at the meeting. She finished third in the A..P. Indy on the turf on opening weekend but has also run well on the dirt. Bobby Barnett will tighten the girth and give a leg-up to Calvin Borel.
$125,000 Thoroughbred Club of America, 6 furlongs, fillies & mares, 3 & up1. Away (Robby Albarado)
2. Juke (Mark Guidry)
3. Fuse It (Calvin Borel)
4. La Galerie (Arg) (Robbie Albarado)
5. Freefourracing (Jon Court)
6. Interest Only (James Lopez)
7. Don't Countess Out (Terry Thompson)
8. Miss Photogenic (Eddie Martin, Jr.)
9. Cat Cay (Pat Day)
10. Sweet Nanette (Craig Perret)
11. French Riviera (Donnie Meche).
