Gabby's Golden Gal seeks second straight in Prioress

GABBY'S GOLDEN GAL (Medaglia d'Oro) was a dominant 13-length winner of the

Sunland Park Oaks earlier in the season, but ran into a buzzsaw named Rachel

Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) next out in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), finishing sixth

after leading during the opening half-mile. The Bob Baffert filly relished

facing normal competition in the Acorn S. (G1) on June 6, leading gate-to-wire

to earn a 1 3/4-length victory, and will keep Javier Castellano aboard while

going for her second straight Grade 1 score on Saturday in the

Prioress

S. at Belmont Park.

Gabby's Golden Gal is likely to face opposition if she goes to the lead, as

HEART ASHLEY (Lion Heart) has utilized those same tactics to take her past three

races. The Steve Asmussen trainee recorded wins in the Cicada S. (G3) and

Miss Preakness S. (G3) in her past two while going the Prioress distance of six

furlongs. Also likely to make a try for front-running duties is SELVA (Forest

Wildcat). The David Carroll charge has maintained her form while running on

turf, dirt and synthetic tracks, most recently earning a half-length second in

the Beaumont S. (G2) on the Polytrack at Keeneland. Like Gabby's Golden Gal and

Heart Ashley, Selva will tote 122 pounds on Saturday.

Other contenders in the Prioress include Dogwood S. (G3) second LUSTER (Touch

Gold), who should enjoy the cutback off that mile test; CAT MOVES (Tale of the

Cat), undefeated from two starts; and LIGHT GREEN (Pleasantly Perfect), an

eight-length scorer in the Fall Aspen S. most recently.