By Joe Bianca
It may not have the graded designation of its male counterpart, but the Debutante S., lacking a clear favorite, drew more than twice as many entrants as the GIII Bashford Manor S., as a baker's dozen of juvenile fillies go postward Friday on closing night of the Churchill Downs spring/summer meet.
Slight preference on the morning line belongs to Donna G. Hancock and Charles W. Brown's Amberspatriot (Awesome Patirot). A first-out victress Apr. 19 at Keeneland, the bay just missed a stakes triumph here May 4 when finished a neck second to fellow filly Buy Sell Hold (Violence) in the Kentucky Juvenile S. Her freshman sire (by Awesome Again) will also be represented by the same owners' strong chance Waki Patriot, who finished full of run to be fourth in the Kentucky Juvenile despite checking and brushing the rail on the turn. The chestnut most recently ran third in the Astoria S. June 8 at Belmont.
Normandy Farm's Sunny Skies (Animal Kingdom) took all the play in her career bow Apr. 27 at Keeneland and cruised to a no-doubt nine-length graduation. The homebred shows three quick works at Keeneland in the interim, but will likely be under the gun from her rail draw.
Another blowout winner on debut was Whispering Oaks Farm's She's a Julie (Elusive Quality). The $160,000 Keeneland September buy settled nicely in the early stages here May 26 and ran away to a 5 1/4-length score over Pure Praise (Congrats), who came back to graduate June 23 in Louisville.
Steve Landers Racing's Lady O'Toole (Colonel John) is logical also. The $80,000 OBS March buy was bet to 16-5 in her unveiling here June 16 and showed professionalism in sweeping to a convincing win despite breaking last.
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