Major Stakes Winners Show Up for Hillsborough

Whoever thought they could just pop into the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs March 7 and walk off with an easy graded stakes victory were in for a big surprise when entries for the 1 1/8-mile grass race came out and there in the field of 12 were multiple grade I winner Stephanie's Kitten, grade II winner Ball Dancing, both from the loaded barn of Chad Brown, and grade II winners Sparkling Review and Filimbi.

Stephanie’s Kitten, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, has grade I victories in the 2014 Flower Bowl Invitational and 2013 Just a Game Stakes, both at Belmont Park, and has placed in four grade I stakes, including a fast-closing second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in her last start.

So, it would seem the Hillsborough is not exactly a spot in which one would expect to find her. But here she is. And she gets her regular rider John Velazquez.

Her stablemate, Ball Dancing, was beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the group I Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks) in her final start in France before coming to America and winning the Sands Point Stakes (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park and finishing second in the grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. Edgard Zayas replaces Jo Bravo aboard the daughter of Exchange Rate.

Ball Dancing will break from post 1, while Stephanie’s Kitten is right alongside in post 2.

On the far outside is Sparkling Review, who is undefeated in her four grass starts, including impressive scores in the grade II Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs and grade III Valley View Stakes at Keeneland. Julien Leparoux will be back aboard for trainer Ben Colebrook.

The presence of these three fillies and mares alone make the Hillsborough a much more important and far tougher race than one might have thought.

As if these three weren’t enough, Bill Mott showed up with Juddmonte Farms’ Filimbi, winner of the grade II Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita Park in her last start, as well as finishing third in the grade I First Lady Stakes at Keeneland.

Another filly with good credentials is Pink Poppy, who captured the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf two races back.

As for the three local fillies entered—Lots o' Lex, Principessa Ava, and Maria Maria, third, fourth, and sixth, respectively, in the Endeavor Stakes—surprise.