Groupie Doll entered Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,600
Presque Isle Downs Master off a more than four-month break, having last been
seen taking the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 5. That didn’t
stop the Bowman’s Band filly from running down It’s Me Mom in the lane and
pulling away for a 3 3/4-length score under jockey Rajiv Maragh.
The chestnut four-year-old was sent off the 3-5 favorite in the 11-distaffer
field and sprinted 6 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta in 1:16 1/5 for owners Carl
Hurst, Brent Burns and Fred & Bill Bradley. The Bradleys bred Groupie Doll in
Kentucky and Bill Bradley is her trainer.
It’s Me Mom gunned to the front from her outside impost, grabbing the lead
and pulling away to as much as a 4 1/2-length lead on the backstretch through
fractions of :21 3/5, :44 3/5 and 1:09 3/5. The swift early pace took its toll
on the four-year-old, though, and she was unable to hold off the late rush of
Groupie Doll, who had tracked in midpack before coming with a five-wide rally at
the quarter-pole. The eventual winner drew off to return $3.40, $2.80 and $2.10
to her many supporters.
Kitty in a Tizzy and Sally Sally also put in game late runs in the stretch.
The former got her neck on the wire in front of Sally Sally, who in turn had a
neck to spare on It’s Me Mom. Completing the order of finish were Sweet
Cassiopeia, Atlantic Hurricane, Ariana D, Interrogate, Salty Strike, Bouquet
Booth and Holiday for Kitten. Holy Heavens was scratched.
Groupie Doll has now won three straight graded events, starting the streak in
the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland on April 12 and continuing with a track-record
setting score last out in the Humana Distaff under the Twin Spires.
Prior to that, the filly was third in the Grade 2 Inside Information and
Grade 3 Sabin following a runner-up effort in her seasonal bow at Gulfstream
Park on January 27. Last year, Groupie Doll captured the Grade 3 Gardenia while
placing in the Grade 2 Raven Run and Charles Town Oaks. She’s finished
off-the-board only twice in her 14-race career, with both of those efforts
coming in turf races, and now shows a 7-3-2 line to go along with $927,850 in
lifetime earnings.
Groupie Doll is out of the winning Silver Deputy mare Deputy Doll, who is a
half-sister to dual stakes hero Russellthemussell, stakes-placed Slick Report
and the dam of multiple Grade 2-placed stakes scorer Aristotle. This is the same
female family of Grade/Group 1 winners 1 Rootentootenwooten and Prorutori; Grade
2 diva Ivanavinalot, and Grade 3 victress It’s Tea Time.
Groupie Doll’s fourth dam is Floral Park, a stakes-winning half-sister to the
dam of multiple champion Gallant Bloom as well as a full sister to Delaware and
Ladies Handicap queen Flower Bowl, who is famous for producing Graustark and His
Majesty.