Multiple Grade 1 heroine BALANCE (Thunder Gulch) will seek her third straight
victory of the season in Saturday’s $500,000 Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland. The
David Hofmans trainee looms as the odds-on favorite in the 1 1/16-mile event,
which serves as an important stepping stone to the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at
Churchill Downs.
Widely considered to be the leader of the three-year-old filly division,
Balance began the year with a one-length victory over Wild Fit (Wild Wonder) in
the February 11 Las Virgenes S. (G1) at Santa Anita and then followed that up
with a widening 2 1/2-length score in the March 12 Santa Anita Oaks (G1). The
bay closed out her juvenile campaign with a close runner-up performance in the
Hollywood Starlet S. (G1). As usual, Victor Espinoza will be in the saddle.
The Todd Pletcher-trained WAIT A WHILE (Maria’s Mon) captured the February 4
Davona Dale S. (G2) by 14 lengths over a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park and
then finished a non-threatening third as the favorite in the March 5 Bonnie Miss
S. (G2). Stable rider John Velazquez has the call.
The Ashland field also includes the Doug O’Neill-trained ITTY BITTY PRETTY
(El Corredor), who has not started since her third-place effort in the Las
Virgenes, and the one-two finishers in the March 18 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay
Downs — BUSHFIRE (Louis Quatorze) and SARATOGA DRIVE (Siphon [Brz]).
Bushfire will lead the post parade under Cornelio Velasquez and be followed
by COOLWIND (Forest Wildcat), Eusebio Razo Jr.; Wait a While; PERFORMING DIVA
(Storm Cat), Rene Douglas; SWEET SUGAREE (Tiznow), Shaun Bridgmohan; Balance;
Saratoga Drive, Javier Castellano; and Itty Bitty Pretty, Mark Guidry.
All starters will carry 121 pounds. Saratoga Drive will wear blinkers.