Groupie Doll established herself as the nation’s leading female sprinter
earlier this season, recording smashing Grade 1 wins in the Humana Distaff and
Madison Stakes, but is perhaps a little forgotten by the racing public following
a planned four-month freshening. The four-year-old filly will have the
opportunity to make another favorable impression Saturday, and re-affirm her
status as a top contender for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint,
when she lines up for Grade 2, $400,000
Presque Isle
Down Masters Stakes.
Jockey Rajiv Maragh will be in to ride the Buff Bradley trainee and Groupie
Doll figures to be an overwhelming favorite among 12 rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong
event on Tapeta. The chestnut daughter of Bowman’s Band netted a 109 BRIS Speed
rating for her 7 1/4-length thrashing in the Humana Distaff last out,
establishing a new seven-furlong track record at Churchill Downs in the process,
and received a 103 number for her three-length Madison score over Keeneland’s
Polytrack. The all-weather track should be no problem for the Kentucky-bred, who
recorded a head second when making her first synthetic start in last year’s
Grade 2 Raven Run, and Groupie Doll is well-drawn in post 7.
Salty Strike will bring a three-race stakes winning streak into the Masters,
including a commendable 1 1/4-length score in the Grade 3 Gardenia most
recently, and merits respect from the far outside post. Leading local rider
Pablo Morales will pick up the mount for Kenny McPeek. It’s Me Mom is a horse
for the course, winning six of nine attempts over the Tapeta, including a sharp
3 1/2-length score in the Satin N Lace two back, and the four-year-old lass is a
major rebound candidate after a seventh as the favorite in the Grade 2 Honorable
Miss at Saratoga. Regular rider Willie Martinez will guide the Lynn Scace
trainee.
Kitty in a Tizzy exits a nice score in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap at seven
furlongs and the James Bond charge will receive a rider switch to Julien
Leparoux. Multiple stakes queen Ariana D just missed in this event last year,
finishing second by a head to eventual female sprint champion Musical Romance,
and the Laurie Silvera pupil will cut back to a more favorable sprint distance
following a couple of thirds at a route. Holiday for Kitten, winner of last
year’s Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland, fits well at
this level for Wesley Ward, and Atlantic Hurricane enters in good form for
conditioner Stuart Simon, winning three of her last five starts, with the only
setbacks being a close second in the Grade 3 Royal North and a close third in
the Grade 3 Whimsical at Woodbine.
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