By Alan Carasso
Godolphin's progressive Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) goes for a third consecutive victory and second at the graded level when she lines up against nine sprinting sophomore fillies in Friday's GII Eight Belles S. at Churchill Downs.
An easy first-out winner at Ellis last August, the homebred was second to Marissa's Lady (Violence) in this track's Fern Creek S. Nov. 27 ahead of a distant runner-up effort behind GI Longines Kentucky Oaks hopeful Secret Oath (Arrogate) in a one-mile Oaklawn allowance Dec. 31. The bay returned to winning ways with a 5 1/4-length allowance romp against two-lifetime foes at the Fair Grounds Feb. 26 and dismantled six rivals by 8 1/2 lengths in Keeneland's GIII Beaumont S. when last seen Apr. 10.
The remarkably consistent Marissa's Lady is unbeaten in five starts around one turn, her only defeat to date coming in the Cincinnati Trophy going a mile at Turfway Mar. 5. She has since returned to add the Mar. 26 Serena's Song S. to prior scores in the Gowell S. and Valdale S. and could be the fly in the favorite's ointment.
Pretty Birdie (Bird Song), a maiden winner at first asking over this strip and next-out heroine of the GII Schuylerville S. at Saratoga, faded to fifth in the Feb. 19 Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn after setting a strong early pace, but improved for the effort to defeat favored Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) into third when last seen in the Purple Martin S. in Hot Springs Mar. 26.
In her only previous appearance over Friday's seven-furlong trip, Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist) missed by 3/4 of a length in the GII Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita Jan. 8. She cuts back off a fourth to Nest (Curlin) in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. Apr. 8.
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