Full field of 10 to go in wide-open Caress
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » With the retirement of back-to-back winner (2016, 2017) Miss Ella, the $200,000 Caress Stakes presents opportunities for other female turf sprinters. Miss Ella, a daughter of the deceased Exchange Rate, was also a Grade 2 winner at three and a Grade 3 winner at four.
Morning-line favoritism for this year’s Caress, which is contested at 5½ furlongs on the Mellon Turf, goes to Kentucky shipper Triple Chelsea (3-1), a winner of three straight stakes at today’s distance. Among the beaten horses in her last two outings was Morticia, third choice on the morning line for the Caress at 5-1. Finishing in the money in all 12 turf starts, Morticia owns a win over the course in last summer’s Coronation Cup at the Spa.
Second choice at 7-2 is Lull, a Claiborne Farm homebred daughter of War Front who is cutting back in distance after competing at a mile in her last four starts. She won two of them but is 0-for-2 at 5½ furlongs.
The well-traveled but lightly raced Tillie’s Lily is also pegged at 8-1. The front-running Distorted Humor filly has reeled off wins in Florida, California and New York over the past 12 months. This is her second start off a nine-month layoff.
Faypien (8-1) is another starter of interest. After compiling a solid record on dirt, including a runner-up finish in last year’s Test Stakes (G1), the Ghostzapper filly was tried on turf for the first time in her most recent outing. She was out-finished by a neck in the Intercontinental Stakes (G3) at Belmont.
Like favored Triple Chelsea, Girls Know Best (8-1) is also riding a three-race win streak. The Kentucky-based daughter of Caleb’s Posse has been out of the exacta just once in five starts since being switched to turf at the beginning of the year.
The New York-bred Fire Key (10-1) is 2-for-2 on the Mellon Turf, with both wins coming last summer. The Freisan Fire filly has been in the exacta in his last six starts, all but one of them in open company.
Just Talkin (8-1) is another starter in top form, having hit the board in her last seven starts, all of them at five furlongs. The Caress is her first try at 5½ furlongs.
Ruby Notion (20-1) and Chanteline (15-1) complete the field.