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Full, classy field in Mrs. Revere awaits bettors
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Hot Cha Cha will go for the hat trick in the Mrs. Revere
(Equi-Sport Photos) |
If you thought great wagering opportunities for the year would be hard to
find following last week's Breeders' Cup bonanza, think again. Saturday's
$175,000
Mrs.
Revere S. (G2) at Churchill Downs, the best stakes of the weekend in North
America, attracted an oversubscribed field of three-year-old fillies. Seventeen
passed the entry box but only 14 will be allowed to start in the 1 1/16-mile
turf test.
As far as favorites go, the public will likely focus on the upset winners of
the past two Grade 1 events in the division, HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge) and MISS
WORLD (Bernstein). Hot Cha Cha is riding a two-race win streak that includes the
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) and Pucker Up S. (G3) at odds of 8-1 and
5-1, respectively. Miss World won the September 12 Garden City S. (G1) at 13-1
off a first-level allowance score, then ran fourth in the Queen Elizabeth.
Unlike those top-level races at Keeneland and Belmont, the turf will likely be
firm for the Mrs. Revere, though both fillies have handled all types of ground.
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Contestants from both divisions of the October 23 Valley View S. (G3) are in
the mix. BLUEGRASS PRINCESS (Dynaformer), SINGLE SOLUTION (Flatter) and KIAWAH
CAT (Lemon Drop Kid) filled the first three slots in that order in the first
division, while MISS KELLER (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]) missed by a head in the second
division with KEERTANA (Johar) more than three lengths behind in third. The
latter, who took the Regret S. (G3) over the Matt Winn turf during the spring
meet, also placed in the Garden City and Lake Placid S. (G2) and might relish
firmer ground.
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Bluegrass Princess will make her Churchill bow on Saturday
(Equi-Sport Photos) |
The speedy ROMACACA (Running Stag) was second as the favorite in the Pucker
Up, but faltered to fifth after dueling early when facing colts in the Hawthorne
Derby (G3) last time. She might face some early pressure from C. S. SILK (Medaglia
d'Oro), the Pucker Up fifth who is otherwise undefeated on grass with allowance
scores at both Churchill and Keeneland. REDREAMIT (Tapit) is another potential
pace factor having taken the Twin Lights S. at Monmouth Park in gate-to-wire
fashion.
MARY'S FOLLIES (More Than Ready) returns to the turf for only the second
time, her first attempt having resulted in a half-length victory in the Boiling
Springs S. (G3) at Monmouth. Two longshots trained by Ken McPeek to watch for
are STRIKING DANCER (Smart Strike), a multiple allowance winner on grass whose
only unplaced effort on the surface was a result of showing speed early rather
than coming from off the pace as is the norm. |
WAR KILL (War Chant), sidelined
for more than six months following a victory in the Beaumont S. (G2) on
Polytrack, tries turf for the first time in the Mrs. Revere and is by War Chant,
who captured the 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) over the Churchill lawn.
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