Three-year-old Filly Diary

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY DIARY

JULY 13, 2006

by Jennifer Caldwell

It's been slim pickings for the three-year-old filly division in the past few

weeks, with only two significant events carded, both coming at Belmont Park.

However, those two events showcased the division leaders and gave a good

indication of what's to come later in the summer.

I'll start off with the Mother Goose S. (G1) on July 1. The 1

1/8-mile test was the first race back for LEMONS FOREVER (Lemon Drop Kid) since

her 1 1/2-length score in the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1). Comparing her odds

between the Oaks and Mother Goose gives a perfect example of the phrase "jumping

on the bandwagon." Sent off the longest shot in the Oaks at 47-1, Lemons Forever

was coming off a career-best effort and a two-month break in the Mother

Goose. Based on that, I was expecting to hear predictions of a bounce for the Dallas Stewart trainee. Instead, the chestnut miss was sent off the 5-2

favorite in the Mother Goose.

Now for the real shocker.

Bushfire earned her third Grade 1 victory in the Mother Goose (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) BUSHFIRE (Louis Quatorze) came off two stellar wins to run third in the Oaks before being disqualified and placed sixth for some interference in the stretch. In this author's mind it was a minor infraction, but the stewards made the right decision in considering what actually happened instead of trying to predict what might have happened in terms of the interference. Nonetheless, Bushfire returned off that effort just little over a month later to gut out a neck decision in the Acorn S. (G1) at Belmont. Despite all this, the bay lass was sent off the 3-1 co-second pick in the Mother Goose. Someone must have forgotten to tell her though, because Bushfire scored a professional win worthy of a mare twice her age. Breaking on top, jockey Edgar Prado let Bushfire find her own stride, content to settle just in behind the pacesetting TEAMMATE (A.P. Indy). The two had squared off in the Acorn previously, but it was a role reversal in that one, with Bushfire setting or pressing the pace with Teammate stalking her. Once again proving her versatility, Bushfire patiently waited until nearing the turn in the Mother Goose, then unleashed a powerful turn of hoof to take over entering the stretch. Once in front, she not only repelled a challenge from READY TO PLEASE (More Than Ready), but also a late-charging PINE ISLAND (Arch), who came from midpack to threaten.

In the end, Bushfire was three parts of a length clear at the wire to make it

six wins from nine career starts. Even though she captured the first two legs of

the Triple Tiara, trainer Eddie Kenneally said his charge would bypass the final

race of the series, the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 22, and instead

give her a slight break to prepare her for a fall campaign.

"She's had a hard campaign and she might need a little break now," Kenneally

said. "It's starting to get hot as well. I think we're going to back off now and

shoot for the fall. She likes Churchill Downs and we'd like to point her to the

Breeders' Cup there."

The conditioner went on to say that Bushfire could reappear in the August 19

Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga and then the Gazelle S. (G1) on September 9 back at

Belmont before going against older runners in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

Getting back to Lemons Forever, she ran a one-paced race, eventually crossing

under the line in fourth as others in front of her started tiring and falling

back. Stewart mentioned a possible rematch with Bushfire in the Alabama.

On Saturday, Belmont presented the six-furlong Prioress Breeders' Cup S. (G1)

and, once again, the favorite finished out of the money as a last-out winner

came on to extend her streak. WILDCAT BETTIE B (Meadowlake) came into the

Prioress off a two-length score in the Miss Preakness S. (G3) while going the

same three-quarter of a mile distance. She didn't draw much support in the Prioress,

leaving the gate as the 5-1 fourth choice, and appeared well out of it in the

early running. However, with Mario Pino holding the reins, the chestnut filly

came four wide into the stretch and just managed to get up by a neck on the

line.

The Test S. (G1) on August 5 at Saratoga could be in Wildcat Bettie B's

future, but trainer J. Larry Jones did express some doubt regarding the

seven-furlong distance for his charge.