Belmont at the Big A: Jockey Club Oaks, Winter Memories Stakes Previews

By Keith McCalmont —-

Lady Mary set for stateside debut in G3 Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – MHM Stables, Sterling Stables and David Grund’s Group 1-placed Lady Mary will make her U.S. debut in Saturday’s Grade 3, $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational, an 11-furlong inner turf test for sophomore fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Jack Sisterson, the Lawman bay made her first eight starts in her native Germany for conditioner Andreas Suborics, including head losses at Group 3 level in the one-mile 2023 Preis der Winterkonigin to Shagara at Baden-Baden and in the 10-furlong Diana Trial to Erle at Hoppegarten.



Lady Mary, who is in training with Sisterson at Saratoga Race Course, enters from a third-place effort in the Group 1 German Oaks on August 4 at Dusseldorf when 4 1/2-lengths back of familiar foe Erle.

“She’s been here for 10 days at Saratoga. She’s settled in well and usually the good ones do. She’s a very athletic type that seems to have a lot of class to her,” Sisterson said. “I’ve been in contact with her previous owner, and he’s helped diagnose her form. He said she has a running style – speed and a turn of foot – that would suit America as well. She ticked all the boxes for the U.S., so we’re excited about her.”

Lady Mary saved ground in a close-up sixth position under jockey Vincent Ho in the German Oaks while racing right-handed over the undulating triangular-shaped course. Although she stumbled slightly inside the final quarter-mile, Lady Mary stayed on strong to the wire and earned show honors by a half-length.

Sisterson said Lady Mary has demonstrated enough in her brief time at the Spa to earn a start in Saturday’s lucrative test.

“It will be a learning experience for us how she handles the trip on a flat course with three turns, but I think she’ll be a versatile filly,” Sisterson said. “In the short time we’ve had her here in Saratoga, she seems very athletic and could probably handle any sort of trip from a mile to 11 furlongs.

“It’s a very different style of training here in the U.S. – you’re constantly switching leads and going left-handed, so she’s probably not used to that,” added Sisterson. “We just wanted to get her settled and she’s been very forward in her gallops. We wouldn’t normally run them this quick off the plane, but she showed signs she’s adapted pretty quick to the American style and she’s ready to run Saturday.”

Sisterson credited agent Alex Elliott in arranging the private purchase of Lady Mary, noting the recent success that MHM Stables and Sterling Stables had in partnership with Group 3-placed Irish import Vina Arana, who rallied to win a one-mile turf maiden in August at Saratoga in her U.S. debut.

“We do a lot of business with Alex and we’ve had some successful purchases together in the past. He’s recommended this filly highly for America and we were able to get something done through him,” Sisterson said.

Lady Mary is out of the Rainbow Quest mare La Reine Noir, a half-sister to 2008 Group 1 Prix de l’Opera winner Lady Marian. Manny Franco, who won seven races including five stakes on Saturday at Colonial Downs, has the call from post 7.

Dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox has entered a pair of contenders in LNJ Foxwoods’ Mixologist [post 9, Ruben Silvera] and Dicke Racing’s dual stakes-winning New York-bred Caldwell Luvs Gold [post 3, Luis Rivera, Jr.]

Mixologist, a Frosted grey, is cross-entered in Friday’s Listed one-mile Winter Memories here. She has won 2-of-3 starts beginning with a first-out graduation in June traveling one-mile over firm Churchill Downs turf when a neck better than Deep Satin, who exited that effort to win her next two starts that includes a salty maiden score at Saratoga and a dead-heat victory in Saturday’s Listed Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.

Mixologist endured a troubled-trip eighth in July at the Spa in a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer won by Proctor Street, who is entered in Friday’s Listed Winter Memories here, but returned to form last out on August 16 to be elevated to victory at the same level and course. There, Mixologist exited the outermost post 10 under returning Hall of Fame rider Joel Rosario and settled in seventh position before launching a seven-wide bid down the lane to finish a half-length back of Winter Memories hopeful Vino Rouge, who crossed the wire first but was demoted to fourth for veering out at the eighth-pole and causing Wrigleyville, who was fourth past the wire, to check.

The $175,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Princess Grace and graded stakes-winner Catnip. She is out of the multiple stakes-placed Silent Name mare Masquerade, who is a half-sister to Vuelo Colorido, winner of the 2002 Grade 1 Clasico Rafael Martinez Nadal at El Comandante; and Svea Dahl, who captured the 2002 Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at the Big A.

Caldwell Luvs Gold, by Goldencents, boasts a 10-3-2-2 record for purse earnings of $307,765 led by state-bred stakes wins on dirt in the 2023 Seeking the Ante traveling six furlongs at the Big A and the 1 1/16-mile New York Oaks in July at Finger Lakes.

She finished sixth in her lone turf outing in May sprinting six furlongs here when exiting the outermost post 12 against optional-claiming company. Caldwell Luvs Gold, bred by Jeremiah Desmond and Drumkenny Farm, is out of the Quality Road mare Snow, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Quindici Man.

SF Racing’s French homebred Mont Saint Michel [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche], who is two deep on the also-eligible list for Wednesday’s $1.6 million Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational at Kentucky Downs, is expected to run here for trainer Brendan Walsh.

“She’s been doing good and I’m itching to run her that little bit further to see how she does,” Walsh said. “She’s bred to go that far, and she gives me every impression that she’ll thrive going that far. Hopefully, that will work out.”

The Wootton Bassett dark bay graduated at second asking when facing elders in June traveling one-mile over firm Woodbine turf in a key race in which the second [Vazhi], third [Romantica], fifth [Determined First], 10th [Storms of Life] and 13th-place [Twirling Piper] finishers exited to graduate next out.

She followed with a pair of nine-furlong efforts over firm turf in stakes company when a 4 1/2-length fourth in the Christiana in July at Delaware Park and a last-out fifth when three lengths back of victorious stablemate Waves of Mischief in the Grade 3 Pucker Up on August 4 at Ellis Park. Waves of Mischief is also entered in the main body of the Dueling Grounds Oaks.

Mont Saint Michel is a half-sister to dual Group 2-winner Dark Vision and Group 3-winner and multiple Group 1-placed Lope Y Fernandez, who finished third in the 2020 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland.

Godolphin’s Irish homebred Beautiful Love [post 4, Dylan Davis] stretches out considerably from a sixth-place finish in her stateside debut last out in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Lake Placid on August 17 at the Spa.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, who has won seven graded races in New York this year, the Siyouni chestnut arrived in the U.S. from a pair of February starts at Meydan Racecourse. Her campaign began with a runner-up effort to eventual Grade 1-winning stablemate Cinderella’s Dream in the seven-furlong Jumeirah Fillies Classic ahead of a six-length romp in a one-mile conditions race.

Beautiful Love’s third dam, Snow Bride, produced the Nijinsky-sired multiple Group 1-winner Lammtarra, who captured the 1995 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Rounding out a talented group are the stakes-placed Macanga [post 10, Lane Luzzi], also cross-entered in the Winter Memories, who was last seen finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr.; allowance winner Lady Madonna [post 8, Jose Lezcano] for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher; along with maiden winners Americandreammaker [post 11, Jose Gomez] for trainer Michelle Hemingway, Egyptian Candy [post 1, Eric Cancel] for conditioner Daniel Leitch, Justdeny [post 5, Junior Alvarado] for trainer Danny Gargan, and Miss Roberts [post 2, Romero Maragh] for conditioner Jamie Begg.

The Jockey Club Oaks is slated as Race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.



NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Nice as Pie leads pair for Danner in $150K Winter Memories

By Mary Eddy —-

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Kelsey Danner has entered two strong contenders in Nice as Pie and Zo Lee as part of a competitive overflow field for Friday’s Listed $150,000 Winter Memories, a one-mile inner turf route for sophomore fillies, on Opening Day of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Dede McGehee’s Nice as Pie [post 9, Adam Beschizza] has been just that in seven lifetime outings, winning four and earning a runner-up effort in another when defeated a head last out in the one-mile Penn Oaks on May 31 at Penn National in her first effort beyond sprint distances. There, she showed an impressive turn of foot to run down all but one of her rivals when a head short of Poolside With Slim, who reopposes in the Winter Memories.

“She’s been working lights out since then, so we should be good. We had to turn her out for 30 days,” Danner said. “Hopefully, she can be a little closer to it on Friday. Grass is fine, and Aqueduct is pretty fair. There should be a fair amount of speed in this race with several coming out of sprints, so I hope it sets up well.”

Out of the Include mare How Nice, Nice as Pie is a half-sister to the Danner-trained stakes-winning turf sprinter Smokin’ Jay, as well as two other winners at sprint distances, making her affinity for more ground last out a pleasant surprise for her conditioner.

“I honestly didn’t know if she would stretch, because everything in her dam’s side of the family did not want to stretch out, but she’s very ratable and came from way off of it last time,” Danner said.

The daughter of Tapiture looks to add to wins in the Valdale and Serena’s Song this winter sprinting on synthetic at Turfway Park, which were part of an impressive four-race win streak to kick off her sophomore campaign.

Danner has also entered Adam Barley’s Zo Lee [post 2, Katie Davis], who is dual stakes-placed at distances of one mile and six furlongs, enters from a narrow defeat last out going the latter distance on synthetic in the Lady Erie on August 5 at Presque Isle Downs. Danner said the daughter of Good Samaritan is possible for other races at Presque Isle and Keeneland.

“She’s been really consistent, and she’s fine at a mile,” said Danner. “She’s very versatile and has a little speed. She’d be sitting closer to the pace.”

Zo Lee seeks her first stakes victory, as well as her first trip to the winner’s circle since a prominent 5 1/2-furlong optional claiming win last August at Colonial Downs.

Nearly one month after scratching from the Grade 2 Lake Placid on August 17 at Saratoga Race Course, Patricia Moseley’s Kentucky homebred Proctor Street [Dylan Davis, post AE12] hopes to draw in from two deep off the also-eligible list for her first attempt at stakes level.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, the regally-bred daughter of Street Sense is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Walsh-trained Moseley homebred Proctor’s Ledge, who won three graded events as part of an 18-5-4-1 record. Now, her daughter will look to score a stakes win of her own, albeit a touch later than originally planned.

“She’s doing really good. We had to miss the Lake Placid because she got loose a couple days before and ran around,” said Walsh. “It wasn’t ideal, so we skipped it and she’s doing good going into this.”

The talented dark bay brings a perfect 2-for-2 record to the oversubscribed field, with both wins coming by narrow margins and in thrilling rallying fashion. Proctor Street kicked off her career with a head score in May at Horseshoe Indianapolis, flying home from nine lengths off the pace to nail For Love and Honor at the wire in the 1 1/16-mile maiden.

Proctor Street followed with a similar deep-closing win going the same distance last out on July 18 at Saratoga, pouncing from last-of-10 to get up just in time and nail Grayosh by a nose. The win at odds of 17-1 garnered an 86 Beyer Speed Figure, and was further flattered when Grayosh exited that effort to win the Lake Placid. The third-place finisher, the stakes-placed Destiny Star, also exited to win an allowance on August 14 at the Spa.

“Obviously, the form is working out good, so we’re really looking forward to this. It’s been unbelievable,” Walsh said of the start of the filly’s career. “Kind of similar to her mom actually, just very progressive as she comes along. She’s been working great, so we’ll give it a go and see how we do.”

Walsh has also supplemented Flying Dutchmen’s dual stakes-placed Cloudwalker [post 6, Jose Lezcano], who stretches out from a rallying third-place finish last out to Twirling Queen in the 5 1/2-furlong Listed Coronation Cup on July 12 at the Spa.

The daughter of More Than Ready has hit the board in each of her five outings, including two wins and another stakes third in the Listed Mamzelle in May at Churchill Downs. Each of the dark bay’s starts have come at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

Glenn Bromagen, II, Patrick Lewis and Sandra Bromagen’s Poolside With Slim [post 7, Frankie Dettori] looks to rebound from a last-out fourth in the Tepin on June 29 at Churchill for conditioner Rusty Arnold. The daughter of Churchill raced in fourth throughout the one-mile Tepin and attempted to launch a bid while six-wide into the stretch, but was ineffective and was defeated 2 1/4 lengths by Dancing N Dixie.

Poolside With Slim looks to add to her determined head score over Nice as Pie in the Penn Oaks, her first stakes victory after two off-the-board efforts in a pair of graded contests this spring. She was a $105,700 purchase at the 2022 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.

Klaravich Stables’ Dynamic Pricing [post 8, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] is the lone graded stakes-winner in the field, boasting a win in the Grade 2 Edgewood this May at Churchill Downs going 1 1/16 miles over yielding footing.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the Irish-bred daughter of Night of Thunder was last seen finishing a close third behind stablemate Grayosh in the Lake Placid, defeated three-quarter lengths after a stalking trip engineered by returning pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Dynamic Pricing earned a 90 Beyer for her half-length win over Way to Be Marie in the Edgewood, marking a breakthrough at the graded level two starts after a close third in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant in February at Gulfstream Park.

Brown will also send out CHP Racing’s Lady de Berry [post 10, Flavien Prat, blinkers ON], who was a last-out third in the Boiling Springs on July 13 at Monmouth Park. The daughter of Practical Joke earned a graded placing when a game second to Zona Verde in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante in December at Del Mar.

The consistent Whiskey Decision [post 5, Junior Alvarado] gets class relief after an uncharacteristic sixth last out in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on August 17 for trainer Arnaud Delacour, who noted the filly will race with blinkers off.

“She may have done a little too much and didn’t quite finish,” Delacour said of the prominent effort. “I like the fact that we’re going back to a mile, and we’re taking the blinkers off. Hopefully, she can have a little more pace and can settle better.”

A Kentucky homebred for Fred W. Hertrich, III and John D. Fielding, the daughter of Into Mischief put together an impressive three-race win streak earlier this year when graduating by 6 1/2 lengths at second asking going this distance over synthetic at Turfway in March, and following with another dominant score in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer over the Churchill turf in May.

She capped her streak two starts back with a tidy 2 3/4-length victory in the nine-furlong Christiana on July 8 at Delaware Park ahead of her last out effort in which she attended the pace and briefly held command in the middle stages before weakening to be defeated seven lengths as the favorite.

“I think we just have to draw a line through the last race,” said Delacour. “She’s doing well.”

The regally-bred filly is from a strong female line that stems from her third dam Note Musicale, who produced multiple Grade 1-winner Music Note, the dam of Group 1 Dubai World Cup-winner Mystic Guide.

Completing the competitive field are French stakes-winner Les Reys [post 3, Joel Rosario], who makes her stateside debut for trainer Christophe Clement; stakes-placed Macanga [post 1, Jose Gomez], who is cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr.; and two-time winning filly Mixologist [post 4, Manny Franco], who is also cross-entered in the Jockey Club Oaks for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox.

Ready to Jam, Vino Rouge and Ori have been listed as also-eligible. Value Area is entered for the main track-only.

The Winter Memories is slated as Race 9 on Friday’s 10-race program. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.



NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.