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Burmilla is an Honorable Miss Darley Stable's BURMILLA (Storm Cat) ran her record to a perfect four-for-four on Friday when wiring the $147,000 Honorable Miss H. (G2) at Saratoga. With Rafael Bejarano aboard, the Eoin Harty charge quickly moved to the front when the gates opened and set reasonable splits of :23 and :45 4/5 while running just off the rail. Drifting out a bit rounding the turn, the four-year-old lass continued to show the way, getting five furlongs in :57 2/5 while easily holding off Indian Flare (Cherokee Run), and crossed under the line 2 3/4 lengths in front of that rival. Stopping the clock in 1:09 2/5 for three-quarters over the fast track, Burmilla paid $13.80, $5 and $3.10 as the near 6-1 fourth choice in the five-horse field. "You never think you are going to get that (first quarter-mile in :23), especially going three-quarters," Harty said. "I think everybody was anticipating a major speed duel. If it was always that easy, it would be nice." Indian Flare was never far back while tracking on the outside and put in her run to be 2 1/2 lengths clear in second. Sent off the 2-1 second pick, she returned $3.70 and $2.80 while ending the $45.60 exacta. G City Gal (Elusive Quality), the near 3-1 third choice, took third by a length over 6-5 favorite Miss Macy Sue (Trippi), giving back $2.50 and finishing the $128.50 trifecta (5-2-3).Grecian Lover (Friendly Lover) finished out the field another 10 3/4 lengths back in fifth. Burmilla began her career in January of 2006, breaking her maiden debut by 4 1/4 lengths before taking a five-month break. She returned last June to score in an allowance at Belmont Park by six lengths, then wasn't seen in competition again for a year, capturing an allowance on June 21 at Churchill Downs. Making her stakes debut here, the chestnut filly more than doubled her earnings to $169,035. Bred in Kentucky by Classicstar, Burmilla is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Nannerl (Valid Appeal), who added the 1993 Honorable Miss to a record that would eventually boast 14 black-type top threes. Her offspring, and theirs, would end up being very valuable at auction. Daughter and multiple Grade 2 victress Magicalmysterycat (Storm Cat) sold for $1.7 million at the 2001 Keeneland January sale while Burmilla brought $850,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2004. However, Nannerl is probably best known as the dam of Magical Masquerade (Unbridled), herself the dam of The Green Monkey (Forestry), who sold for a world record $16 million at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Calder Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Nannerl has also produced an unnamed yearling filly by Giant's Causeway. Harty mentioned the August 26 Ballerina Breeders' Cup S. (G1) could be Burmilla's next start.
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