After suffering her first career defeat last month in the Edgewood (G3) at Churchill Downs, Newspaperofrecord looks to right the ship Thursday in the $200,000 Wonder Again (G3) at Belmont Park.
A brilliant winner of all three starts at two, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and Miss Grillo (G2), Newspaperofrecord will be heavily favored in the nine-furlong prep for next month’s Belmont Oaks (G1).
Favored at odds of 1-5 in the Edgewood, Newspaperofrecord led comfortably until the final furlong, when she was run down by Concrete Rose, whom she had defeated decisively over the same course in the Breeders’ Cup. The losing margin was 3 3/4 lengths.
“I think I had her a little short, but she seems to be good now. She’s fit and ready to go,” trainer Chad Brown said.
Fourth in the Edgewood was another Chad Brown trainee, Cambier Parc. She had previously won her two other grass attempts over firm ground, including the Herecomesthebride (G3) at Gulfstream.
The small field also includes Honeybee (G3) winner Chocolate Kisses, who returns to the turf after being placed seventh in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). The Candy Ride half-sister to multiple graded turf stakes-winner Synchrony finished third in the $100,000 P.G. Johnson at Saratoga and won a Fair Grounds allowance in two prior grass runs.
Brown is three-deep in the $200,000 Intercontinental (G3), a seven-furlong grass test for fillies and mares.
Significant Form won the 2017 Miss Grillo and finished second in last season’s Wonder Again, but her form tailed off in the second half of 2018. Stella di Camelot impressively captured the $200,000 Pebbles in her U.S. debut in October, but was a below-par fifth in the Mrs. Revere (G2) at Churchill Downs as the 1-2 favorite next out. French Group 3 winner Zonza also exits a disappointing loss as the favorite when fourth in her U.S. bow against allowance foes at Keeneland in April.
Italian Group 3 winner Binti Al Nar adds Lasix and blinkers for her second stateside appearance after running last of six in the May 11 Beaugay (G3) in a glacially-run race. Fire Key, Broadway Run, and Raven’s Lady also bring capable form.
The $150,000 Astoria, for two-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs, features the promising Mark Casse-trained duo of Perfect Alibi and Reiterate, plus the Wesley Ward-trained Ms Headley.
