Originally carded for last Sunday, the $250,000
Molly
Pitcher S. (G2) had to be moved to this Saturday’s program at Monmouth Park
due to Hurricane Irene. The 1 1/16-mile event for fillies and mares will be
offered along with the $100,000
Sapling S.
(G3) for two-year-olds.
The original six entrants, including contenders PAYTON D’ORO (Medaglia
d’Oro), QUIET GIANT (Giant’s Causeway) and CHAMPAGNE D’ORO (Medaglia d’Oro),
were all re-entered at Wednesday’s draw, but there are now nine runners in the
newly assembled field. And the Bill Mott-trained ARENA ELVIRA (Ghostzapper), who
is set to make her graded debut off a comfortable 1 1/4-length score in the
August 5 Madame Jumel S. at Saratoga, is a dangerous fresh face in the Molly
Pitcher line-up.
Out of multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Two Item Limit, who placed in the
2001 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), Arena Elvira broke her maiden in December and
made her next four starts versus allowance rivals, winning twice, including a
sharp 5 1/4-length score on May 5 at Belmont Park that netted her a 103 BRIS
Speed rating. The improving four-year-old filly stepped up to face stakes rivals
in the 1 1/8-mile Madame Jumel and rallied strongly from just off the pace to
win going away, registering another respectable 101 Speed rating. Arena Elvira
will pick up a new rider in Joe Bravo and is drawn on the far outside.
Grade 2 heroine Payton d’Oro will compete for favoritism from her rail post.
Trained by Larry “Cowboy” Jones, the five-year-old mare exits a troubled trip in
the July 31 Ruffian Invitational (G1) at Saratoga in which she finished fourth
but was elevated one spot to third by the stewards. Second in the Ogden Phipps
(G1) and Allair duPont Distaff (G3) in her two previous starts, Payton d’Oro
will retain the services of Gabriel Saez and is eligible to break through with
her victory in 2011 Saturday.
Quiet Giant enters in career-best form for Todd Pletcher, posting a 6
3/4-length tally in the July 31 Lady’s Secret S. at Monmouth Park that earned
her a 105 BRIS Speed rating, and Julien Leparoux will be in to ride the
four-year-old filly again. A multiple stakes winner over the winter at Aqueduct,
Quiet Giant recorded a non-threatening sixth behind Blind Luck (Pollard’s
Vision) and Unrivaled Belle when making her graded stakes bow in the La Troienne
S. (G2) two starts back, but she’s eligible to show much more in the Molly
Pitcher.
Grade 1 winner Champagne d’Oro will stretch out in distance off a third in
the six-furlong Honorable Miss S. (G3) at Saratoga and Kent Desormeaux will be
in to ride the Eric Guillot pupil. Stakes winner ABSINTHE MINDED (Quiet
American), a good second behind Awesome Maria (Maria’s Mon) in the Shuvee H.
(G2) three starts back, exits a pair of unplaced efforts in the Ruffian and
Ogden Phipps, and the speedy miss will look to turn things around with new pilot
Mike Luzzi.
The six-furlong Sapling has attracted a solid field of 11 youngsters,
including SHE DIGS ME (Henny Hughes), a sharp two-length scorer in the local
Tyro S. on July 24. A maiden winner at Churchill Downs two starts back, the
Steve Asmussen-trained colt will keep Elvis Trujillo in the saddle and the
stalker received a nice starting position in post 10.
The Wesley Ward-trained BLACK RHINO (El Corredor) merits respect off a fourth
in the July 24 Sanford S. (G2) at Saratoga, and SUM OF THE PARTS (Speightstown)
will look to rebound for conditioner Tom Amoss off a fourth as the favorite in
the July 2 Bashford Manor S. (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Impressive last-out maiden winners SCALLION (Lion Heart), JAGATI (Yes It’s
True), VOODOO DADDY (City Zip) and SPACE TRAVELER (Malibu Moon) are also
entered.