Lucrative Kentucky Downs meet kicks off with three stakes

Mystical Star, Christophe Clement's Grade 2-winning mare, seeks her first win

of the season after placing just two times in her last five outings. Heroine of

the 1 1/4-mile New York at Belmont Park in June 2012, the five-year-old later

finished second in the Spinster at Keeneland and the Long Island Handicap at

Aqueduct, but has not been as productive this term.

Fifth when defending her title in the June 29 New York, Mystical Star most

recently faded to third in the $100,000 Waya at Saratoga after making a short

lead in the stretch.

Also exiting the Waya is fourth-place finisher Angel Terrace, who upset a

division of the Valley View at Keeneland last fall. Angel Terrace, who is also

seeking her first win of the season, races for owner George Strawbridge and is

trained by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard.

Beijoca, fifth in the Waya, was Grade 3-placed at Gulfstream last winter

prior to scoring in a 1 1/2-mile allowance at Keeneland in April.

Recent listed winners Left a Message and Prissy are potential threats. Left a

Message rallied from 12 lengths down to take the $101,000 Flaming Page at

Woodbine over 12 furlongs last out, while the front-running Prissy will attempt

to stretch her speed after taking a $100,000 stakes at Mountaineer going one

mile and 70 yards on West Virginia Derby day last month.

Two former European mainstays, Preferential and Midnight Music, might take to

Kentucky Downs' undulating, European-style course better than others.

Preferential, a stakes winner at Chantilly in France prior to her importation,

has not placed in three U.S. appearances, but Midnight Music has been

stakes-placed in her last four, including the May 18 Keertana at Churchill Downs

and the July 5 Lucie Manet at Hollywood Park.

Sisterhood, twice Grade 3-placed this season, is arguably the class of the

one-mile

Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf, but might be vulnerable with just two wins and

no placings in 11 lifetime attempts on turf. Potentially more appealing is the

Grade 2-placed Drama Drama, a course-and-distance allowance winner last season

who enters the Ladies Turf off an allowance victory at Ellis Park.

Others expected to garner wagering support include last-out Saratoga

allowance scorer Run a Risk, Lady Canterbury winner Awesome Flower, Churchill

allowance winners Gleaning and Dame Marie, and the undefeated Strawbridge

homebred Nashindy.

The leading lights in the 6 1/2-furlong

Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint all drew outside posts. Grade 1-paced Magical

Moon, a close second in the $98,000 Coronation Cup at Saratoga last time,

figures along with Saratoga allowance winner To My Valentine and course

specialists Cat Lore and Soft Whisper.

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