Emollient seeks third Keeneland stakes win in Doubledogdare

Last updated: 4/15/14 3:01 PM

Emollient impressively captured the Ashland and Spinster at Keeneland last season

(Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Claiborne Farm’s dual champion filly Doubledogdare famously entered Keeneland
lore in the years 1955 and 1956 when she captured the Lexington, Kentucky,
course’s biggest events for fillies: the Alcibiades, Ashland and Spinster. On
Friday, Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Emollient can add to her own growing Keeneland
legend with a victory in the Grade 3, $100,000

Doubledogdare, a 1 1/16-mile main track test for older fillies and mares.

Emollient did not compete in the 2012 Alcibiades, but had her name inscribed
beside Doubledogdare’s when taking both the Ashland and Spinster last season.
The Bill Mott trainee cruised by nine lengths in the Ashland and, after a
summertime score in the American Oaks on grass at Hollywood Park, returned to
Keeneland in October to land the Spinster in a last-to-first rally by 1 1/4
lengths. The daughter of Empire Maker exits back-to-back fourth-place efforts in
the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Santa Ana, both on grass at Santa Anita.

Sisterly Love wheels back on two weeks’ rest following an allowance score
over the Doubledogdare course and distance. The Mark Casse charge faded to
fourth after setting a pressured pace in the Spinster last fall, but scored
impressive Polytrack stakes wins at Woodbine last summer in the Trillium and
Ontario Matron.

Another with notable synthetic credentials is Sisterhood, who narrowly missed
in both the Doubledogdare and Arlington Matron last year. The Wesley Ward pupil
has been idle since December, when she ended her campaign with a fifth
consecutive unplaced finish against stakes foes.

Several quality grass performers are also in the Doubledogdare lineup,
including 2013 Bewitch winner Strathnaver. The Graham Motion-trained daughter of
Oasis Dream also captured the Lady Baltimore at Laurel in September and was last
seen finishing a close third in the My Charmer Handicap at Calder in December.

Solid Appeal kicked off her 2013 campaign with an allowance win over the
Keeneland main track and later won the Nassau and Dance Smartly, both Grade 2
events over the Woodbine turf. She will be making her first start since running
third in the Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs in November.

Others of note are Canadian classic winner Dixie Strike, Remington Park Oaks
and Zia Park Oaks runner-up Gold Medal Dancer, and the Grade 3-placed Ire, who
has won three of four starts on the Keeneland Polytrack.

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