Trained by Todd Pletcher, Maddie May has been one of the more consistent New York-bred sprinting females over the last few seasons. She enters this race off an open-length victory as the favorite in the Schenectady Sept. 22.
A daughter of Not For Love, Maddie May has been entered in Keeneland's November breeding stock sale and there's a good chance the Iroquois could be her last start. With a record of 8-5-0 from 18 starts and more than $394,000 in earnings, Maddie May has the look of an exciting broodmare prospect.
"Nothing is etched in stone, but that's the plan," Pletcher said. "With everything she's done it's the logical thing to do. She's been very good to us. She's consistent and hard trying."
Maddie May shares the Iroquois highweight assignment of 123 pounds with Dat You Miz Blue. Thirteen are entered, including an entry of Fromheretoheaven and Textbook Method. Owned by Cynthia Knight, Dat You Miz Blue finished nearly two lengths behind Maddie May when they last met in the April 7 Broadway at Aqueduct. But the mare has made her last six starts versus open company horses with notable success. Dat You Miz Blue, the leading money earner in the field with more than $666,000 in the bank, recently finished third to multiple stakes winner Tates Creek in the Noble Damsel (gr. IIIT). In August, Dat You Miz Blue finished third behind Grade 1 winners Mandy's Gold and Shine Again in the Honorable Miss (gr. III).
Jimmy Jerkens trains Dat You Miz Blue and jockey Jose Santos has the ride.
$125,000 Iroquois, 7 furlongs, fillies and mares
PP Horse, Rider, Wgt.
1 We'll Sea Ya, Filiberto Leon, 116
2 Shawklit Mint, Harry Vega, 113
3 Seeyouinmydreams, Javier Castellano, 112
4 Runaway Tiger, Shaun Bridgmohan, 114
5 Belongs to Mony, Richard Migliore, 116
6a Fromheretoheaven, Norberto Arroyo Jr., 110
7 Dat You Miz Blue, Jose Santos, 123
8 Carson City Girl, Mike Luzzi, 113
9 Heavenly Rose, Jorge Chavez, 112
10 Maddie May, John Velazquez, 123
11a Textbook Method, Jerry Bailey, 116
12 Little Lori Lou, Jose Bermudez, 111
13 Princess Dixie, Edgar Prado, 116