By Joe Bianca
Only a half-length under the Twin Spires likely stood between Cicero Farms' Marley's Freedom (Blame) and an Eclipse Award for Champion Female Sprinter, and the 5-year-old will look to avenge that defeat as the favorite in Saturday's GI Humana Distaff S. at Churchill.
Winner of four straight last spring and summer, culminating with a convincing victory in the GI Ballerina S., the bay was backed down to 9-10 in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, but had a difficult trip before flying late to finish a close fourth. Wrapping up her year with a neck victory in the GIII Go For Wand H. Dec. 1 at Aqueduct, she repeated in the GII Santa Monica S. Feb. 16 at Santa Anita before running second as the 1-2 favorite in the GI Beholder Mile S. last out there Mar. 30.
Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger) looks to continue her ascent for the Peter Miller barn. Victress of the California-bred Betty Grable S. Nov. 11 at Del Mar, she repeated in the GI La Brea S. Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Switched from the Brian Koriner outfit after that, she was a head second in the GIII Barbara Fritchie S. Feb. 16 at Laurel before earning her second top-level score by a neck in the GI Madison S. Apr. 6 at Keeneland.
'TDN Rising Star' Talk Veuve to Me (Violence) is seeking to recapture her top form. A devastating 11 1/4-length graduate last spring at Fair Grounds, she was runner-up in both the GII Eight Belles S. over track and trip and GI Acorn S. behind eventual champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). Dominating the GIII Indiana Oaks in her two-turn bow, the dark bay was off the board in her next two before returning with an optional claiming tally Apr. 11 in Lexington.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
