Peace and War returns to Keeneland for Ashland

Peace and War returns to

Keeneland for Ashland

"She is better mentally now than she was last year," Stevens said.

The only other Grade 1 winner in the field is Angela Renee (Bernardini), who

took the Chandelier (G1) at Santa Anita last fall, but Todd Pletcher's filly was

subsequently beaten by wide margins in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and

Demoiselle (G2). She was fourth in her season debut, the Rachel Alexandra (G3)

at Fair Grounds, after a slow start.

Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) and West Coast Belle (Tapit), second and

sixth, respectively, in the Rachel Alexandra, return for the Ashland. Lovely

Maria has been first or second in all five outings conducted on a fast track,

while West Coast Belle seeks to fare better than what she showed in two starts

at Fair Grounds over the winter. She won two stakes at Churchill Downs last

fall, including the Golden Rod (G2).

Completing the field are Forward Gal (G2) runner-up Lassofthemohicans (Indian

Charlie), fifth in the Davona Dale (G2) last time; New York-bred stakes winner

Temper Mint Patty (Congrats); and maiden winner Silverpocketsfull (Indian

Charlie).

The $350,000

Madison (G1),

a seven-furlong dash for fillies and mares, marks the season debut of

Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat). One of the more accomplished three-year-old

fillies in the country last season, with consecutive wins in the Black-Eyed

Susan (G2), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), and Alabama (G1), she ended her

campaign with a distant second to older mares in the Beldame (G1).

Undrafted (Purim), owned by NFL star Wes Welker and trained by Wesley Ward,

is the star attraction of the $125,000

Shakertown

(G3) at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. After taking the Jaipur (G3) at Belmont

last June, the gelding was a respectable fourth in the July Cup (Eng-G1) at

Newmarket and later missed by a half-length in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

(G1). Undrafted will have to overcome the far outside post in the field of 13.

Australian import Power Alert (Alert) is two-for-two since arriving in

America, most recently taking the $75,000 Silks Run at Gulfstream over Amelia's

Wild Ride (D'wildcat), the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint winner with whom he

renews acquaintance in the Shakertown.

Something Extra (Indian Charlie), a multiple Grade 2 winner in Canada, has

placed in two prior starts over the course, including a neck loss in the 2014

Shakertown. Another threat is Tightend Touchdown (Pure Precision), a multiple

winner of the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup at Penn National and past runner-up in

the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Also in the lineup is Zee Bros, a course-and-distance allowance winner in

October who later claimed the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel. The

D. Wayne Lukas charge has placed in one of three outings so far this year.

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