Grade 1 veteran BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe), third in the October 10
Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) in what was expected to be her final start for Doubledown
Stables, will go to bat for her connections one more time in Sunday’s $125,000
Dowager
S. at Keeneland. Following her swan song as the 125-pound highweight, the
six-year-old will be sold at the November 10 Selected Fall Mixed Sale at Fasig-Tipton
near Lexington, Kentucky.
The John Sadler-trained Black Mamba has been a major presence on the Southern
California turf scene since 2007. The bay scored her signature victory in the
2008 John C. Mabee H. (G1), but she has also landed the past two runnings of the
Beverly Hills H. (G2) as well as the C.T.T. and Thoroughbred Owners of
California H. at Del Mar two starts ago. The confirmed closer ran true to form
in the Yellow Ribbon, rallying to finish third for the third straight year in
the Oak Tree showpiece and collecting her 10th career stakes placing.
Black Mamba will be stretching out to 1 1/2 grassy miles for the first time
since last December, when she finished a solid fourth versus males in the
Hollywood Turf Cup (G1). The bay will break from the far outside post 11 in her
Keeneland debut with new rider Robby Albarado.
WINTER VIEW (Thunder Gulch) looms as the course and distance specialist,
having garnered the Bewitch S. (G3) and an allowance at the spring meet.
Subsequently successful in the All Along S. (G3) at Colonial, the Jonathan
Sheppard mare wound up a one-paced sixth in the Robert G. Dick Memorial H. (G3)
at Delaware and just failed to get up in time in the Claire Marine S. at
Arlington in her latest venture. Julien Leparoux, who has not been aboard in her
past two losses, will reunite with Winter View here.
CAPRICE (Ger) (Monsun), fourth behind Winter View in the Bewitch, gained her
revenge when scoring in the Robert G. Dick. The Graham Motion trainee has run
only once in the interim, racing evenly in fourth in the Glens Falls H. (G3) at
Saratoga. Jeremy Rose, who guided her to victory at Delaware, will renew their
partnership as Caprice seeks to improve on her distant third in last year’s
Dowager.
Other contenders include Glens Falls runner-up LEMONETTE (Lemon Drop Kid),
most recently seventh in the Yellow Ribbon; Claire Marine winner BALLYNOE
(Distorted Humor) and third SWEET AND FLAWLESS (Unbridled’s Song); and SOUL OF
NATAKA (Perfect Soul [Ire]), who exits a photo-finish victory over Ontario-breds
in the Carotene S. at Woodbine.