Dunbar Road Set for 2020 Debut in Shawnee Stakes

Peter Brant's Dunbar Road will make her 4-year-old debut May 23 when she faces seven older fillies and mares in the $100,000 Shawnee Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. 

Trained by Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, Dunbar Road enters the race off an almost six-month respite. The Quality Road  filly last competed at Santa Anita Park, where she finished fifth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). 

Dunbar Road broke through at the graded stakes level last year, winning the Mother Goose Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, followed by the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. She went on to finish third in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland before heading to California to contest the Breeders' Cup. 

Dunbar Road put in her final timed work May 17 at Churchill Downs, breezing four furlongs in :48. She will break from post 4 under Jose Ortiz. 

Trainer Steve Asmussen will send out 5-year-old She's a Julie for owners Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim and Anna Cambron, Denali Stud, Rigney Racing, and Madaket Stables. The La Troienne Stakes Presented by Inside Access from Chase (G1)-winning daughter of Elusive Quality finished third in three of her final four starts of 2019: the Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2), Shuvee Stakes (G3), and Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1). She closed the year with a fourth-place finish in the Spinster. 

Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride from post 8.

Trainer Mark Casse will send out two in the Shawnee. Making her first start for Casse is 6-year-old Moonlit Garden, a stakes-winning daughter of Malibu Moon  who has yet to earn a graded score. 

The oldest runner in the field, Moonlit Garden joined Casse's stable at the beginning of the year. Offered to the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, she was purchased by D. J. Stable from the consignment of Vinery Sales for $335,000.

The mare won the 2018 Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga and the 2019 Iowa Distaff Stakes at Prairie Meadows. She will break from the rail under Tyler Gaffalione. 

Also from the Casse barn is Chocolate Kisses, who enters off a runner-up finish in a March 5 allowance optional claiming race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. 

Owned by Debby Oxley, Chocolate Kisses took home last year's Honeybee Stakes (G3) at 3. She finished off the board in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) but managed to snag third in the Indiana Oaks (G3) in her final start of 2019. The daughter of Candy Ride  will partner with Declan Carroll from post 2. 

Awe Emma, Another Broad, Vault, and Flower Party complete the field.