MIAMI – Are the leaders of the 3-year-old filly turf division better than their older counterparts stabled in south Florida this summer? That question will be answered Saturday, weather permitting, when most of the top members of both groups converge at Calder in the $55,000 Ms Brookski Stakes scheduled for 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass.
The versatile Trip for A.J. is the unquestioned queen of the hill among the 3-year-old fillies, although she may actually be a bit better on dirt than grass. The daughter of Trippi has defeated older horses in each of her last two starts over the main track, the Nancy’s Glitter Handicap by 3 1/4 lengths on July 24 and a money-conditioned allowance test going a mile by nearly eight widening lengths just two weeks later. She also was awarded a victory via the disqualification of Regina Twain in the grassy Noble Robyn for 3-year-olds earlier this summer.
Joanie’s Catch topped the 3-year-old filly division when the meet began, coming off four graded stakes placings this winter at Gulfstream Park, but her form tailed off badly until she finally rebounded with a three-quarter-length victory over older, second-level allowance horses in a race switched from the turf to the main track Aug. 22. She remains winless in two starts on grass.
Other prominent 3-year-olds in the Ms Brookski include Musical Romance, a stakes winner on turf against her own kind late this spring, along with Gorgeous Melody, Atlantic Hurricane, and Dancing Rage, each of whom defeated older horses in their most recent starts.
The best of the older fillies in the field is Toocleverforwords who has finished second in each of her two local starts, both of which were originally scheduled for the grass but moved to the main track due to rain. Toocleverforwords was unable to run down Joanie’s Catch when the pair met 13 days earlier but could have the upper hand if the rematch comes over her most effective surface, turf, instead of dirt.
Toocleverforwords is one of three fillies and mares trainer Marty Wolfson entered in the race, along with Diva d’Oro and Amazing, who is on the also-eligible list. Both horses were claimed out of their last starts by Farnsworth Stables, Diva d’Oro for $35,000 at Louisiana Downs and Amazing for $75,000 just two weeks ago at Saratoga.
The speedy Aroma de Mujer and consistent Even Road are among the other older horses in the Ms Brookski field.
