Souper Sensational Faces Up-And-Comers in Prioress

Coming four weeks after the Longines Test Stakes (G1), only one horseman opted to return his trainee in the $250,000 Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course Sept. 4. That trainer is Mark Casse, who runs Test runner-up Souper Sensational .

Not that almost a month is a demanding order for a Casse-trained runner in peak form. In recent years, the Hall of Famer has scored top-level victories with Got Stormy  on a week's turnaround in the 2019 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) and War of Will   in that year's Preakness Stakes (G1) after two weeks' rest. Compared to those quick returns, four weeks off might be considered a layoff.

The 3-year-old daughter of Curlin   is the most accomplished entrant in the six-furlong Prioress, a graded stakes winner of $347,203 for Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation. She won the Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park July 10 which preceded her runner-up finish to Bella Sofia  in the Test. Those efforts earned her career-best Equibase Speed Ratings of 104 and 105, respectively. She is 3-for-8 overall.

"She's doing well. She's a nice horse," Casse said. "We've been proud of her efforts. She came out of the Test well and is doing everything right."

A $725,000 purchase from the Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services consignment at The Saratoga Sale in 2019 at Fasig-Tipton, Souper Sensational breezed a half-mile in :47.88 Aug. 25 at Saratoga.

Ricardo Santana Jr., aboard in the Test, returns in the irons on Souper Sensational. She carries high weight of 122 pounds, spotting the opposition two-four pounds apiece.

Though Souper Sensational is the most battled-tested of six 3-year-old fillies in the Prioress, she isn't the only filly with talent. Oxana , Edie Meeny Miny Mo , and Amendment Nineteen  have shown promise in limited appearances.

Holly Hill Stables' Edie Meeny Miny Mo won her first two starts before setting the pace and finishing second in the 1 1/16-mile Monmouth Oaks (G3) July 31 in her first start in stakes company.

"She's going to get to the race in perfect condition. I'm very happy with the way she's training," trainer Miguel Vera said. "I'm excited to see her run in New York.

"The last race, I was happy with how she ran. She didn't break sharp enough but then she did everything right. I'd be more confident if she can sit behind the speed, like we had planned it for that race, but there was no speed in there, so she had to go on the lead. I still think she did awesome for the first time in a graded stakes and going two turns."

The Upstart   filly adds blinkers for racing after firing a bullet half-mile in :46 at Pimlico Race Course Aug. 26.

Tee N Jay Stable's Oxana and Amendment Nineteen are wild cards. The former comes to New York following two blowout wins at Parx Racing, while the latter races after being acquired privately by Juddmonte following a runner-up finish in a fast allowance race at Saratoga July 24. Brad Cox is the new trainer of Amendment Nineteen after she previously raced for Linda Rice.

Li'l Tootsie  and Cilla  complete the field.

The fifth race on a 12-race card at Saratoga that includes the Flower Bowl Stakes (G1T) and the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), the Prioress has an early post time of 2:47 p.m. ET.

Entries: Prioress S. (G2)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, September 04, 2021, Race 5

• Grade II
• 6f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 2:47 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Oxana (PA)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Timothy A. Hills	3/1
2	2Edie Meeny Miny Mo (MD)	Victor Espinoza	118	Miguel Vera	9/2
3	3Li'l Tootsie (KY)	Dylan Davis	120	Thomas M. Amoss	12/1
4	4Cilla (LA)	Tyler Gaffalione	120	Charlton Baker	8/1
5	5Amendment Nineteen (MD)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Brad H. Cox	4/1
6	6Souper Sensational (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Mark E. Casse	6/5