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Sweet Lulu, Close Hatches square off in Cotillion
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| Sweet Lulu (right) aced the seven-furlong Test to remain undefeated
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Unhappy three years ago when his champion filly Blind Luck lost narrowly
while giving 10 pounds to Havre de Grace, Hall of Fame trainer Jerry
Hollendorfer will see his undefeated Grade 1 winner Sweet Lulu receiving weight
from most of her major rivals in Saturday's renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million
Cotillion
at Parx Racing over 1 1/16 miles.
A belated debut winner on May 30, Sweet Lulu racked up three overnight wins
in Southern California before shipping east for the August 24 Test at Saratoga.
Competing over dirt for the first time, the daughter of Mr. Greeley pressed a
hot pace and gamely dug in to win by a head going seven furlong.
More than likely using the Cotillion as a stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup
Filly & Mare Sprint, Sweet Lulu still commands respect around two turns as she
was a convincing allowance winner over older fillies and mares going a mile at
Del Mar two back. Under the allowance conditions of the race, Sweet Lulu will
carry 117 pounds in the Cotillion. |
The Bill Mott-trained Close Hatches has the distinction of being the only
horse to defeat divisional leader Princess of Sylmar this year. A 3 1/4-length
winner over that rival in the nine-furlong Gazelle at Aqueduct in April, Close
Hatches next finished a distant seventh to that filly in the Kentucky Oaks. A
distant second when shortening up to a mile in the Acorn on Memorial Day, Close
Hatches rebounded to take the 1 1/16-mile Mother Goose by a widening 7 1/4
lengths in her most recent start on June 22. She will tote 124 pounds in the
Cotillion.
Seaneen Girl seeks her second win in a row after defeating a modest field by
six lengths in the Monmouth Oaks last month for trainer Bernie Flint. It was the
first victory in seven starts this season for the filly, who most notably
captured the Golden Rod at Churchill Downs as a juvenile. Seaneen Girl and
Dancing Afleet, who captured a slowly-run renewal of the Delaware Oaks in her
last start, will both carry 122 pounds.
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| Mother Goose winner Close Hatches is the only filly to have beaten Princess of Sylmar this year
(Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) |
Grade 3 winner My Happy Face has been in the mix in all four starts this
term. Runner-up in the Forward Gal at Gulfstream last winter, the Tiz Wonderful
filly was an overnight stakes winner at Belmont in June and then finish a
distant second to Princess of Sylmar in the Coaching Club American Oaks. She was
most recently a neck behind Sweet Lulu in the Test.
Kiaran McLaughlin will saddle the lightly-raced Carnival Court and Asiya in
the Cotillion. Carnival Court was the pacesetter in last month's 1 1/4-mile
Alabama in her fourth career start, but finished 6 1/4 lengths third to Princess
of Sylmar. Asiya also futilely chased Princess of Sylmar this season, in the
January 5 Busanda at Aqueduct, but was an impressive 8 1/4-length allowance
winner at Saratoga on August 14 following a seven-month layoff.
The Cotillion field is rounded out by Flash Forward, Promise Me More, and
Street Girl. |
A full load of 14 three-year-olds have been entered in the $300,000
Gallant
Bob, a six-furlong dash upgraded to Grade 3 status this year after
attracting champion Trinniberg in 2012.
The field is led by Grade 3 winners Clearly Now and Rainbow Heir, as well as
California invaders Distinctiv Passion and Zeewat. Other threats in a wide-open
race include Majestic Hussar, Salutos Amigos, and Amarish.
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