GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) makes her first start of 2021 Saturday in the GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn. Victress of the GIII Honeybee S. at this oval last season, the bay rallied to be third behind champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in Oaklawn's GIII Fantasy S. in May. She wired a Churchill optional claimer by six lengths a month later and romped in the GIII Indiana Oaks in July. Overlooked at 15-1 in the Oaks due to the presence of future champions Swiss Skydiver and Gamine (Into Mischief), Shedaresthedevil registered a 1 1/2-length decision over Swiss Skydiver on the First Friday in September and faded to third last time in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland Oct. 4. Her trainer Brad Cox also saddles Getridofwhatailesu (Ghostzapper), who rallied from last-to-first in Oaklawn's Pippin S. last out Jan. 23.
Ken McPeek chose to send his champion Swiss Skydiver to the west coast for her seasonal bow, but is still represented here by Envoutante (Uncle Mo). Third in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland in July, the dark bay checked in fourth to her Eclipse-winning stablemate in the GI Alabama S. Aug. 15. Returning to winning ways in the GIII Remington Park Oaks Sept. 27, she went wire-to-wire in Churchill's GII Falls City S., dominating by six lengths Nov. 26.
Letruska (Super Saver) captured the GIII Shuvee S. at Saratoga in August, but faded to fourth next out after setting the pace in Belmont's GII Beldame Invitational S. Oct. 4. Running away to a 6 3/4-length score in Gulfstream's GIII Rampart S. Dec. 12, the bay scored a facile victory in the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. last time Jan. 31.
Completing this small, but competitive field of five is Motion Emotion (Take Charge Indy). Runner-up in a pair of Oaklawn optional claimers last April, the bay checked in second to champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) in Churchill's GII Fleur de Lis H. June 27. She was fourth in Saratoga's GI Personal Ensign S. Aug. 1 in her final start for trainer Richard Baltas and owners Abbondanza Racing, Mark DeDomenico and Medallion Racing. Motion Emotion was purchased by Spendthrift Farm for $800,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale and My Racehorse joined in as partner. Transferred to Steve Asmussen, she finished fifth in the Houston Ladies Classic last time.
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