SINGLETARY (Sultry Song) ran a good second in the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup
Mile S. (G1) at Hollywood Park last year prior to a summer-long break that ended
when he finished just a head back in third in the Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile
(G2) in early October. In his next start, the Donald Chatlos Jr. charge posted a
half-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).
On Monday, Singletary will try to go one better in this year’s $350,000
edition of the Shoemaker en route to an attempted title defense in the Breeders’
Cup. The five-year-old finished seventh in his 2005 bow, the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), and then captured the Arcadia H. (G2) by a length last out.
The bay will be on even terms with his six rivals, as each will have to tote 124
pounds. David Flores, aboard for the Breeders’ Cup win, will get the mount back
after jockey Alex Solis, in the saddle for both starts this season, has the call
on BUCKLAND MANOR (Bien Bien).
That five-year-old chestnut has already knocked heads with Singletary,
finishing ahead of his rival when running second in the Kilroe Mile two back and
Oak Tree last year. He did finish third in the Arcadia last out and will be
looking to avenge that defeat on Monday. Another contender, CASTLEDALE (Ire)
(Peintre Celebre) will be looking to validate his half-length score in the San
Francisco Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) most recently. Winner of the Santa Anita Derby
(G1) while on the Triple Crown Trail last season, the Jeff Mullins trainee has
returned to the turf and blossomed in two starts this campaign. Rene Douglas has
piloting duties again.
Castledale will lead the post parade to the gate. He’ll be followed by
SPECIAL RING (Nureyev), Tyler Baze; WHILLY (Ire) (Sri Pekan), Felipe Martinez;
KING OF HAPPINESS (Spinning World), Corey Nakatani; FAST AND FURIOUS (Fr) (Singspiel [Ire]),
Victor Espinoza; Buckland Manor; and Singletary.
Also on Hollywood’s Memorial Day card will be the $350,000 Gamely Breeders’
Cup H. (G1) for turf distaffers. Trainer Bobby Frankel decided not to enter
Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal) in the nine-furlong test because of her weight
assignment, so the talented chestnut won’t get the chance to finally earn a win
in the race after running third and second, respectively, the past two years.
Instead, MISS TERRIBLE (Arg) (Numerous) will be the one returning for a better
finishing position after a close fourth in the 2003 edition.
Trained by Bradley Ross, the bay didn’t run at all last year, but returned a
new mare for her six-year-old campaign, already taking the Las Flores H. (G3) on
the dirt before capturing the Distaff Turf Mile (G3) last out on the green. A
two-time champion in her native Argentina, Miss Terrible could start her quest
for a
U.S. championship with a win in the Gamely. She’ll have to tote the highweight
of 118 pounds, most of which will be taken up by Mike Smith.
Among Miss Terrible’s rivals will be two-time Grade 1 victress ISLAND FASHION
(Petionville), who is seeking her first win since taking the Lady’s Secret
Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) in early October. The Marcelo Polanco trainee made her
five-year-old debut a close runner-up finish in the Santa Monica H. (G1), but
has been off the board in two starts since.
NADESZHDA (GB) (Nashwan) drew the rail post under Julio Garcia and has been
assigned 113 pounds. To her outside will be AMORAMA (Fr) (Sri Pekan), Douglas,
116; MEA DOMINA (Dance Brightly), Baze, 115; FLIP FLOP (Fr) (Zieten), Solis,
114; Miss Terrible; Island Fashion, Nakatani, 116; HALO OLA (Arg) (Southern
Halo), Jose Valdivia Jr., 115; SOLAR ECHO (Spinning World), Flores, 116; and
URAIB (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), Garrett Gomez, 113.