Tough cast of six entered in Bonnie Miss

Last updated: 3/17/10 7:45 PM

Tough cast of six entered in
Bonnie Miss

Amen Hallelujah is going for her second straight dirt win
(Benoit Photos)

A small field of six fillies will take to the track in Saturday’s $200,000

Bonnie Miss S. (G2), and the 1 1/8-mile affair will be the stakes bow for
the Patrick Biancone-trained CHRISTINE DAAE (Giant’s Causeway). However, she’ll not have
an easy time in her black-type bow, as AMEN HALLELUJAH (Montbrook), DEVIL MAY
CARE (Malibu Moon), SWITCH (Quiet American) and JOANIE’S CATCH (First Tour) are
all also entered.

Amen Hallelujah is the filly to beat in the Bonnie Miss off a dominating 6
1/4-length victory in the Davona Dale S. (G2) in her dirt debut. The Richard
Dutrow charge broke her maiden and captured an allowance over Arlington Park’s
Polytrack, then proceeded to run third in both the Alcibiades S. (G1) and
Hollywood Starlet S. (G1), both on all-weather surfaces. She earned her first
stakes when sprinting seven furlongs in the Santa Ynez S. (G2) on the Pro-Ride
at Santa Anita, but it wasn’t until getting some dirt under her hooves did the
dark bay lass really impress. She easily drew off in the Davona Dale and will
have to carry her speed another eighth of a mile in this one under Julien
Leparoux.

This is the long-awaited stakes bow for Christine Daae, who was scheduled to
go in the Davona Dale but instead was withdrawn and raced one day later. That
came in an allowance over the track and distance, and the chestnut miss posted a 2
3/4-length success under Corey Nakatani. Her only loss to date came last July
over Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track, and she’ll garner plenty of support with
Nakatani returning to the saddle for this one.

Devil May Care will be looking to redeem herself in the Bonnie Miss following
a pair of dismal performances. An easy maiden winner at Saratoga, the Todd
Pletcher-trained bay would go on to take the Frizette S. (G1) at Belmont Park in
October. She didn’t take to the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita in the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Fillies (G1), running next to last, and filled that same spot when
making her seasonal bow in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) at Fair Grounds on
February 20. John Velazquez will take back the mount.

The last win that Joanie’s Catch recorded came in September’s Brave Raj S. at
Calder. Since then, the Barry Rose runner has finished second in six of her last
starts, including the Davona Dale, Forward Gal S. (G2) and Old Hat S. (G3) in
her past three. The chestnut filly is long overdue for a graded score, and Paco
Lopez will attempt to guide her to the winner’s circle here. Maiden winner
Switch is also looking for that elusive first graded victory following
third-place finishes in the Santa Ynez S. and Las Virgenes S. (G1). She’ll
be trying dirt for the first time in the Bonnie Miss under Eduardo Nunez.

Completing the field is starter allowance scorer DANNY’S FRIEND (Broken Vow), who
will be making her initial stakes foray in this spot.