Three-Year-Old Filly Diary

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY DIARY

MARCH 30, 2006

by Jennifer Caldwell

This week's diary focuses on the sophomore filly division, who followed the

example of their male counterparts this past weekend. Longshots were the norm in

the three-year-old ranks, with favorites being defeated by lesser known rivals.

The Eddie Kenneally-trained BUSHFIRE (Louis Quatorze) was one of those who,

despite being sent off the fourth choice, captured a nice Kentucky Oaks (G1)

prep in the Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs on March 18. The bay lass was coming off distant

seventh in the Davona Dale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park, but that performance was

uncharacteristic compared to her previous three starts, which consisted of two

wins and

a third. Kenneally's explanation that Bushfire didn't like

the sloppy conditions of the Davona Dale didn't convince many horse players, but

she proved all but a few faithful wrong. Taking the lead by the half-mile mark

in the Florida Oaks, Bushfire was never headed en route to a three-quarter of a

length victory in the 8 1/2-furlong test. She'll move up in her next one, going

for either the Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland on April 8 or the Fantasy

S. (G2) on April 14 at Oaklawn Park.

WILD GAMS (Forest Wildcat) defeated the favorite in the Cicada S. (G3) over

Aqueduct's inner dirt on March 18, earning her third straight win in the

process. She also earned a terrific 110 BRIS Speed rating for the score. Though

the Cicada was run at six furlongs, Wild Gams was drawing off at the end,

indicating that more distance will not be a problem. The Ben Perkins Jr. trainee has

never competed beyond six furlongs, but will probably get the opportunity when

Aqueduct switches back to the main track. Coming off three easy

wins, though, will probably drive down her odds next time.

ERMINE (Exchange Rate) successfully stretched out to 1 1/16 miles for a

second straight time when making her stakes debut in the Honeybee S. at Oaklawn

Park Saturday. A winner in her previous start over the track at the same distance, Ermine didn't get much backing

off that maiden victory and was sent off as the

5-1 fourth choice in the six-horse field. She trailed in just behind the pacesetter before taking over

in the stretch and went on to post a three-length victory. Among those the

chestnut filly beat in the Honeybee was Silverbulletday S. (G3) winner Baghdaria

(Royal Academy), and Ermine looks poised to advance off her win, probably in

the Fantasy next out.

The fact she was making her seasonal bow in the Bourbonette Breeders' Cup S.

(G3) helped drive TOP NOTCH LADY's (Sultry Song) odds up. Despite that, and

the fact that she was running four and five wide throughout, the bay miss

recorded the neck victory after making her way up from midpack. The real news in

the mile test, though, was SABATINI (Five Star Day), who was sent off the 6-5

favorite. Trained by Patrick Biancone, she rallied from near the back and came

four wide around the final turn. When reaching upper stretch, she bumped with

Lemons Forever (Lemon Drop Kid), which caused jockey Julien Leparoux to lose the

whip. Despite that, Sabatini made up ground under hand urging to get fourth,

just a little more than 1 1/2 lengths behind Top Notch Lady at the wire.

Coming up this weekend, both Oaklawn and Sunland Park will host stakes, but the only graded test for sophomore fillies will take place at Santa

Anita in the Santa Paula S. (G3). Oaklawn will feature the six-furlong Rainbow

Miss S. on Sunday, but the major talk will probably come from the $250,000

WinStar Sunland Park Oaks on Saturday.