Mrs. Sippy Set for 2020 Debut in New York Stakes

Grade 2 winner Mrs. Sippy, last seen in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, is entered for her season debut June 27 in the $250,000 New York Stakes (G2T) on the inner turf at Belmont Park.

Last year, Andrew Stone's Mrs. Sippy rallied to victory in her U.S. debut in the Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) on the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course. Trainer Graham Motion then gave her a shot at the top level in the Flower Bowl Stakes (G1T), and the homebred daughter of Blame —Qushchi, by Encosta de Lago, ran second to 2018 champion turf female Sistercharlie.

Mrs. Sippy has been preparing for her 5-year-old debut at Motion's Fair Hill Training Center barn, where from May 30 to June 21 she posted four timed workouts, each at least six furlongs. Motion is comfortable with the schedule, noting most of the division's biggest races are still on the horizon.

"We want to have her fresh for the fall. Last year, the Breeders' Cup came at the end of a long year," Motion said. "Hopefully, we'll have her fresher for the fall this time around."

Mrs. Sippy isn't the only talented runner Motion entered in the 1 1/4-mile race for fillies and mares. He'll also send out the surging Mean Mary, who will look to extend her three-race winning streak when she starts from the outside in the expected field of seven. A homebred for Alex Campbell Jr., the 4-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy won two consecutive graded stakes in frontrunning fashion at Gulfstream Park, capped by the March 28 Orchid Stakes Presented by Rood and Riddle (G3T) last out.

"Her career took off in Florida," Motion said. "We thought from her first race that she was talented, and it seems like she's gotten better and better."

Trainer Chad Brown, who has won three of the past four editions of the New York, plans to send out Peter Brant's My Sister Nat and Wise Racing's Fools Gold. 

A group 3 winner in France who placed sixth in the Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1) as a 3-year-old, My Sister Nat will make her first start since finishing a close second Nov. 30 in the Long Island Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Fools Gold, who figures to chase Mean Mary early, is also scheduled for her season debut. Last year, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro  won the Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga.

Brown isn't the only connection searching for a fourth New York win in five years as jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard those recent winners. This year he'll try with Call Me Love, one of two runners entered by Christophe Clement. The daughter of Sea The Stars will make her second U.S. start after finishing second to Rushing Fall in the June 3 Beaugay Stakes (G3T) on the Belmont inner turf.

She might show speed on the stretch out to 1 1/4 miles. She was a frontrunner at times in Italy last year.

Clement also will send out Feel Glorious for her first start since closing 2019 with a win in the Winter Memories Stakes at Aqueduct.

Rounding out the field is stakes winner Valiance, who has won all three of her turf starts for trainer Todd Pletcher.