Groupie Doll Could Take on Boys in Grade I Cigar Mile

Nov 14, 2012 Travers Manley

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade I) winner Groupie Doll was scheduled to go to trainer Buff Bradley’s farm in Frankfort, Ky. earlier this week, but plans changed and the 4-year-old filly remained at Churchill Downs to prepare for a possible start in the Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct on Nov. 24.

“She’s so good right now,” Bradley said. “It wouldn’t be an easy race, but with as good as she is right now, we’re thinking about it.”

Groupie Doll originally was scheduled to leave for the farm just days after returning to Louisville following her Breeders’ Cup triumph, but Bradley kept her at Churchill Downs to participate in the Breeders’ Cup Parade of Champions, which was held at the Louisville track Nov. 11.

“When we took her over for the parade she was dragging them around,” Bradley said.

Bradley, who co-owns the filly with his father, Fred, and Carl Hurst and Brent Burns, said Groupie Doll’s assigned weight will be the deciding factor on whether to run in the Cigar.

“We’ll check the weights and see,” Bradley said. “I want to make sure the weights are fair and, if they look all right, we’ll probably go.”

Weights for the Cigar are scheduled to be announced Nov. 18.

OVERANALYZE TO PASS ON DELTA JACKPOT, HEAD TO KY JOCKEY CLUB – Trainer Todd Pletcher said Wednesday that Repole Stable’s Overanalyze, a pre-entrant for Saturday’s $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (GIII), is now being pointed to the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24 as part of the “Stars of Tomorrow II” program.

“We decided to stay at Churchill since he was already there and felt the extra week would be beneficial,” Pletcher said. “I also wanted to get a two-turn race at Churchill into him and see how he handled it.”

Pletcher is a two-time winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club. WinStar Farm LLC’s Super Saver won the race in 2009 and returned to Churchill Downs the following year to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI). Gemologist, also owned by WinStar Farm, won it in 2011 and returned in 2012 to finish 16^th in the Derby. 

“It’s been a good race for us in the past,” Pletcher said. “Those two horses went on to win significant races afterward and we also had Any Given Saturday run second in it, so it’s been a good prep for us. We feel like it’s important to get a good two-turn race into the 2-year-olds before you winter and prepare for the spring.”

Pletcher said WinStar Farm LLC and Twin Creeks Racing Stable LLC’s Delhomme also is under consideration for the Kentucky Jockey Club. A bay son of Dixie Union, Delhomme broke his maiden at second asking at Belmont Park on Oct. 13.

“We’ll see how he breezes this weekend and assess the fields at Aqueduct for the Remsen (GII) and the Jockey Club at Churchill Downs and then make a decision.”       

MIZ IDA SEEKS FOURTH STRAIGHT STAKES VICTORY IN SATURDAY’S MRS. REVERE – Bert, Elaine and Richard Klein’s Miz Ida will seek to record her fourth consecutive stakes victory in Saturday’s 22^nd running of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII) at Churchill Downs. Since finishing seventh in the Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks Day, Miz Ida has scored wins in the Indiana Downs Distaff, Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf and Valley View (GIII).

“She’s doing really good right now,” trainer Steve Margolis said. “She’s been working good and everything has been really positive.

“I think we’ve learned something about her since the Edgewood. She was close to the pace and was a little rank in the Edgewood. All of her best races are when she comes from a little further behind. Since the Edgewood, she’s been dropping back and settling and making a run. That seems to be her style.”

Miz Ida, a 3-year-old filly by Proud Citizen, is out of the multiple stakes winner May Gator. On Thursday, May Gator’s 2-year-old by Sharp Humor Gator Zone will make her career debut in the seventh race at Churchill Downs. She also is owned by the Kleins and trained by Margolis. She will break from post 12 under Shaun Bridgmohan.

“She’s been training good and we’re looking forward to it,” Margolis said. “We’ve taken our time with her and she should give a good account of herself (Thursday). We didn’t get the most ideal post. I’d rather have the 12 than the one, but ideally, we’d like to have the six or seven.”

DOWN THE STRETCH – Flashy Gray, a 2-year-old filly who broke her maiden by 10 ¼ lengths at Churchill Downs on Nov. 8, sold at the Keeneland November Sale on Tuesday for $775,000 to West Point Thoroughbreds and Tom Keithley. Erin Finley, director of communications at West Point Thoroughbreds, said Flashy Gray would be sent to trainer Bill Mott’s barn at Payson Park in Florida and is unlikely, although not completely ruled out, for the Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24 … Norman Casse, assistant trainer to his father Mark, said Wednesday that Bill Farish Jr.’s Pool Play will be ridden by Corey Lanerie in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI). Miguel Mena, Pool Play’s regular rider, will be aboard Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Cease … John Oxley’s Uncaptured, winner of the Iroquois (GIII), breezed five furlongs in :59.40 for trainer Mark Casse in preparation for the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII). It was the fastest of 42 at the distance on the fast main track … Trainer Andrew McKeever reported from his barn at Keeneland that Cardinal Handicap (GIII) winner Daisy Devine exited the race in good order and will be pointed to the Blushing K.D. Handicap at Fair Grounds on Dec. 22 … Trainer Dale Romans said Wednesday that no decision has been made whether Shackleford will make his final career start in the Clark Handicap or the Cigar Mile. A decision could be made following Shackleford’s workout this weekend, which will come at Churchill Downs on Saturday or Sunday following the renovation break … Friday Happy Hours on Nov. 16 from 3-5 p.m. will feature $2 Budweiser and Bud Light drink specials plus live music by Olivia Henken in the new Plaza area.

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