Fierce Lady heavily favored in today’s The Stillwater
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> With a sixhorse field that between them have made just six career starts, handicappers don’t have a lot to work with in trying to figure Thursday’s feature, the $100,000 Stillwater Stakes for NY-bred 2-year-old fillies.
Nevertheless, the morning line believes it has a clear favorite in Fierce Lady (1-2). The daughter of first-year sire Competitive Edge rolled to a six-length victory in her debut at Belmont on June 22, earning a big number while clocking a swift :56 2/5 seconds for five furlongs. Dermot Magner conditions the $75k yearling buy for Nice Guys Stable and Steve Hornstock. Javier Castellano gets the return call.
Time Limit is the clear second choice at 9-2. The Bustin Stones filly also was impressive in her debut one day later at Belmont, wiring a six-horse field to win going away by 6¼ lengths. Her winning time was nearly two seconds slower than that of Fierce Lady. Jose Ortiz replaces Javier Castellano, who rode both Fierce Lady and Time Limit in their openers, and opted for the former. Mike Maker trains for Three Diamonds Farm.
Next on the morning line is Classy Sadie (6-1), the only horse in the Stillwater field with more than one race under her belt. After coming up three lengths short in her first effort, she ran back seven weeks later to score by 3 ¾ lengths on a muddy track at Belmont. A daughter of the Unbridled’s Song stallion Emcee, Classy Sadie is conditioned by Gary Contessa. Eric Cancel stays aboard for an ownership group that includes Pines Stable, John C. Irwin and others.
My Italian Rabbi (8-1) won at first asking at Belmont on May 30, coming from a bit off the pace to prevail by 2½ lengths. Another daughter of Competitive Edge, she brought $160,000 as a yearling. Luis Saez will be in the irons again for Jeremiah Englehart and Gold Square LLC.
Also pegged at 8-1 is Jewel of Arabia, who will be making her career debut in the Stillwater. Joel Rosario will be aboard for Christophe Clement and Sumaya U.S. Stable. Jewel of Arabia, a daughter of first-crop sire Daredevil, will race without Lasix.
Jen’s Battle rounds out the field at 15-1. The Declaration of War filly finished a well-beaten third in her troubled debut at Belmont 3½ weeks ago. Manny Franco gets the call for Gary Contessa and owner Leonard C. Green.