Groupie Doll returns a winner in Presque Isle Downs Master

by Brisnet.com

Groupie Doll entered Saturday's Grade 2, $400,600

Presque Isle Downs Master off a more than four-month break, having last been

seen taking the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 5. That didn't

stop the Bowman's Band filly from running down It's Me Mom in the lane and

pulling away for a 3 3/4-length score under jockey Rajiv Maragh.

The chestnut four-year-old was sent off the 3-5 favorite in the 11-distaffer

field and sprinted 6 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta in 1:16 1/5 for owners Carl

Hurst, Brent Burns and Fred & Bill Bradley. The Bradleys bred Groupie Doll in

Kentucky and Bill Bradley is her trainer.

It's Me Mom gunned to the front from her outside impost, grabbing the lead

and pulling away to as much as a 4 1/2-length lead on the backstretch through

fractions of :21 3/5, :44 3/5 and 1:09 3/5. The swift early pace took its toll

on the four-year-old, though, and she was unable to hold off the late rush of

Groupie Doll, who had tracked in midpack before coming with a five-wide rally at

the quarter-pole. The eventual winner drew off to return $3.40, $2.80 and $2.10

to her many supporters.

Kitty in a Tizzy and Sally Sally also put in game late runs in the stretch.

The former got her neck on the wire in front of Sally Sally, who in turn had a

neck to spare on It's Me Mom. Completing the order of finish were Sweet

Cassiopeia, Atlantic Hurricane, Ariana D, Interrogate, Salty Strike, Bouquet

Booth and Holiday for Kitten. Holy Heavens was scratched.

Groupie Doll has now won three straight graded events, starting the streak in

the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland on April 12 and continuing with a track-record

setting score last out in the Humana Distaff under the Twin Spires.

Prior to that, the filly was third in the Grade 2 Inside Information and

Grade 3 Sabin following a runner-up effort in her seasonal bow at Gulfstream

Park on January 27. Last year, Groupie Doll captured the Grade 3 Gardenia while

placing in the Grade 2 Raven Run and Charles Town Oaks. She's finished

off-the-board only twice in her 14-race career, with both of those efforts

coming in turf races, and now shows a 7-3-2 line to go along with $927,850 in

lifetime earnings.

Groupie Doll is out of the winning Silver Deputy mare Deputy Doll, who is a

half-sister to dual stakes hero Russellthemussell, stakes-placed Slick Report

and the dam of multiple Grade 2-placed stakes scorer Aristotle. This is the same

female family of Grade/Group 1 winners 1 Rootentootenwooten and Prorutori; Grade

2 diva Ivanavinalot, and Grade 3 victress It's Tea Time.

Groupie Doll's fourth dam is Floral Park, a stakes-winning half-sister to the

dam of multiple champion Gallant Bloom as well as a full sister to Delaware and

Ladies Handicap queen Flower Bowl, who is famous for producing Graustark and His

Majesty.