Rain Could Dampen Key of Life's Chances in Beaumont

Back on her favorite track, it seems the only thing that could hinder Key of Life 's victory dance in the Beaumont Stakes (G2) would be the 86% chance of rain in the forecast for Sunday, April 16.

The fleet-footed daughter of Mo Town  , a perfect 2-for-2 at Keeneland, boasts the strongest numbers entering the seven furlong and 184 feet contest for sophomore fillies. Campaigned by Flurry Racing Stables, who signed the ticket for $350,000 at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds-in-Training, and Hoffman Family Racing, Key of Life rolls into the $400,000 Beaumont off a sterling effort in last month's Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Rebounding from a third-place finish in the Feb. 11 Dixie Belle Stakes—which was contested over a muddy track—Key of Life dashed to the front and never looked back on her way to a 3 1/4-length triumph in the Purple Martin Stakes.

"The track last out (Dixie Belle) was muddy. Everything was coming from off the pace that day. It was the perfect storm of bad luck," owner Stanton Flurry said after the Purple Martin. "(Key of Life) is just a nice filly. I'm excited to see what the rest of the year holds. Hopefully, we can get a graded race or two with her and keep on rolling with the flow.”

Breaking from the far outside post in the Beaumont, the Brad Cox trainee will need another sharp leap away from the gate to outgun New York shipper Stonewall Star  and possibly Ruthless Stakes winner Interpolate  for the early advantage.

Flavien Prat has the call on Key of Life. In her two prior starts at Keeneland last year as a 2-year-old, Key of Life soared to dominating scores in the Myrtlewood Stakes and an allowance optional claimer, both over six furlongs.

The Beaumont, the last stop on the Road to the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1), offers points on a 10-4-3-2-1 scale. However, none of the Beaumont contenders are currently in contention to gain a starting slot into the Oaks even with a win in Sunday's race.

Barry Schwartz's Stonewall Star, a wire-to-wire winner in two of her last four starts, exits an 11-length romp in the seven-furlong Wide Country Stakes Feb. 18 at Laurel Park. The speedy New York-bred filly faces graded company for the first time in seven trips to the post, and makes only her third venture away from the Big Apple.

The Flatter  filly, trained by Horacio De Paz, will start from post 3 with Luis Saez in the irons.

Interpolate, hailing from the powerful Chad Brown barn, looks like an improving daughter of Into Mischief   after her decisive tally in the Feb. 5 Ruthless. Burdened by less-than-ideal trips in all but one of her four starts, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will attempt to steer the filly away from trouble in the Beaumont.

Other contenders include 2022 Pocahontas Stakes (G3) victress Fun and Feisty  and Gasparilla Stakes winner Opus Forty Two , both of whom cut back in trip.