By Joe Bianca
These days, nearly all Grade I races for fillies and mares on the grass go through champion Tepin, but with the daughter of Bernstein shipping across the pond to try to conquer Royal Ascot, opportunity suddenly knocks for 13 distaff turfers in the $700,000 Grade I Just A Game S.
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, Jr. have the lukewarm morning line favorite in Mrs McDougal (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of last summer's GII Lake George S. at Saratoga. The $450,000 Keeneland yearling buy made a successful 4-year-old debut with a one-length tally in the Plenty Of Grace S. Apr. 16 at Aqueduct.
The second-place finisher in that event was Courtlandt Farms' homebred Strike Charmer (Smart Strike), a 6-year-old mare who came back with easily the best race of her career May 14 over this course, capturing the GIII Beaugay S. by 2 1/4 lengths with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
Another horse coming off a career-top effort is James A. Bryan, Jr.'s Celestine (Scat Daddy), a 4-year-old filly who conquered the GII Honey Fox S. in frontrunning fashion Apr. 2 at Gulfstream. The dark bay has fired three straight bullets over the Saratoga training track, most recently breezing a half-mile June 6 in :47 4/5.
Four runners bred in Ireland were entered, with import Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) perhaps the most intriguing among them. Owned and trained by Martyn Meade, the bay narrowly missed Group 1 glory when finishing a close second at 63-1 to the outstanding MG1SW Ervedya (Fr) (Sivouni {Fr}) in Longchamp's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches last May. She comes into this off a runner-up finish in the G2 Lanwades Stud Ridgewood Pearl S. May 21 at The Curragh.
Alpha Delta Stables' My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song) finished three-quarters of a length behind Tepin when that one was last defeated in the GII Ballston Spa S. at Saratoga Aug.29, then was third in the GI First Lady S. Oct. 3 at Keeneland with a tough trip. Running off on the lead in the Beaugay in her seasonal bow before checking in fourth, she looks to settle better here under new rider Mike Smith.
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