Winter Memories gets back to work in Beaugay

Winter Memories, whose explosive turn of foot propelled her to four graded

stakes wins last season, including the Grade 1 Garden City, makes her

four-year-old debut Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000

Beaugay at Belmont Park.

The gray daughter of El Prado should find the conditions ideal in the 1

1/16-mile grass test as she's undefeated in three attempts over Belmont's two

turf courses.

A marvel to watch due to her stretch-running theatrics, Winter Memories cut

things close in winning the Garden City and Grade 3 Appalachian by a neck each

last term, but blowout wins were just as common in such races as the Grade 2

Sands Point and Grade 2 Lake George. Winter Memories proved vulnerable twice in

six outings at three, struggling over boggy ground in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at

Saratoga and running a flat fourth in her season finale in the Grade 1 Queen

Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

"I'm not sure if she likes Keeneland, and I think she went over the top after

the Garden City," trainer Jimmy Toner said. "I think she left it all out there.

There was nothing left. Unfortunately, it was the race we pointed for all year

long, but she was just over the top."

Back at her preferred course after lengthy winter preparation, Winter

Memories could prove difficult to fend off as the 119-pound highweight under

Eddie Castro.

"She has developed and matured over the winter," Toner said. "She's filled

out. We haven't missed a beat, and we look forward to having her back. The

ultimate goal this year would be the Breeders' Cup, but it's one step at a time.

We're looking forward to getting back in the groove."

Juddmonte Farms' Principal Role will make her U.S. debut in the Beaugay for

trainer Bill Mott. Previously based in England under Sir Henry Cecil, the

five-year-old was a multiple listed winner overseas, but ran probably her best

race in the Group 1 Nassau at the Glorious Goodwood meet last July, finishing

third behind standouts Midday and Snow Fairy.

Federation, also a former mainstay in England, could turn in a mild surprise

for trainer Christophe Clement. The four-year-old raced three times over the

winter at Tampa Bay Downs, winning twice against allowance foes and then

finishing second in the Grade 3 Hillsborough in a sharp effort.

Other notables in the Beaugay lineup are Gitchee Goomie, the New York-bred

ace who finished second by a neck in the 2011 Beaugay; Hessonite, another

multiple stakes winner in New York-bred company; multiple overnight stakes

winner My Redbyrd; and Check the Label, who debuts for Clement but has not

reached the winner's circle since the 2010 Garden City.

Another who should appreciate the return to the Belmont turf is Phipps

Stable's Boisterous, who heads a solid field in the Grade 3, $150,000

Fort Marcy

over 1 1/16 miles. Last season, the Distorted Humor five-year-old captured the

Grade 3 Knickerbocker and Three Coins Up overnight stakes on the inner turf,

plus ran third in the Grade 1 Man o' War. He concluded the season with a

two-length score in the Grade 2 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct, but was only

fourth in his season debut in a March 18 allowance at Gulfstream over a course

that might have been too hard.

"He has been training very, very well and there's no reason he shouldn't run

well on Saturday," said Robbie Medina, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Shug

McGaughey. "If he does, races like the (Grade 1) Manhattan (Handicap on June 9)

would be considered. The 1 1/4 miles of the Manhattan suits him more than the

Fort Marcy, but he is doing very well."

Also coming off a South Florida clunker is the Todd Pletcher-trained Silver

Medallion, who trailed in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap as the 7-5

favorite. Prior to that, the colt ripped off impressive wins in the Grade 3

Tropical Turf Handicap at Calder and the Grade 3 Ft. Lauderdale at Gulfstream,

the latter against a very deep field.

Debuting for Chad Brown is French import Desert Blanc, a listed winner at

Deauville last July who later when on to place in a Group 3 at  Longschamp.

Grade 3 veteran Sal the Barber, overnight stakes winners Beau Choix, Boots Ahead

and Top Surprize, and the consistent allowance-class Upgrade are others of

interest.