Jersey Pearl, Dazzling Blue to Square Off in Prioress

Silverton Hill's Jersey Pearl  will look to secure her first career stakes win when she battles Dazzling Blue  and three other 3-year-old fillies in the Sept. 2 Prioress Stakes (G2) at six furlongs on the main track at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Darrin Miller, the Bee Jersey   chestnut strung together two consecutive victories in allowance optional claiming races in Kentucky before running fifth in the Test Stakes (G1) Aug. 5 at Saratoga. She was clipped from behind by a rival in the middle section of the race.

Miller said the incident could have hindered his filly.

"It did, but I don't know to what effect. She came out of it in good order. Most importantly, she seemed to get across Saratoga fine," Miller said. "Obviously, that race was a tall order and there were no great expectations. We knew what we were running against and if she would have hit the board it would have been fantastic, but building a resume is the biggest goal. I also think she's a competitor. I don't think you can throw her out. She can make sense in some places."

The $12,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, who has banked $226,225 through a 3-1-1 record in seven starts, made her first two starts with trainer Brian Lynch, graduating in October at Keeneland before moving to Miller's barn for her Turfway campaign

Bred in Kentucky by Charles Fipke, Jersey Pearl is out of the Perfect Soul  mare Jersey's Soul , a half-sister to 2010 Cigar Mile (G1) winner Jersey Town  .

The Spa's leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. picks up the mount from the inside post.

Juddmonte's Dazzling Blue is the likely favorite. She won her first three career starts all in six-furlong sprints for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox before running second to Maple Leaf Mel in the 6 1/2-furlong Victory Ride Stakes (G3) July 8 at Belmont Park. Vahva , the third-place finisher in the Victory Ride, exited that event to win the Charles Town Oaks (G3).

"She's doing fantastic and she's really stepped up and moved forward being up here this summer," Cox said. "We're cutting her back to three-quarters from six and a half, and we like that. She's doing really well."

Joel Rosario is aboard Dazzling Blue, who breaks from the outside post.

P.D. Ladner's Alva Starr  boasts a perfect in-the-money record of 2-2-0 in four starts for trainer Brett Brinkman. Bred by Brinkman and Ladner, Alva Starr most recently made every pole a winning one last out July 8 while facing older company in the six-furlong Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware Park when ridden out by 6 3/4 lengths.

"I think it did a lot of good for her to walk out of her own stall and be able to race," Brinkman said. "She put forth a great effort for us and we had the Prioress penciled in after that."

The Lord Nelson bay is out of the graded stakes-placed Into Mischief mare Sittin At the Bar, who was campaigned by Brinkman and Ladner. Alva Starr is also a half-sibling to 2021 Prioress winner Cilla, multiple graded stakes-placed Club Car , and stakes-winner Jack the Umpire , all campaigned by the same connections.

"I can't express how special that mare's been to us. It's a dream come true. You never expect a horse like that to come into your life and be that special, but she definitely has been," Brinkman said. 

  

Rounding out the short field are stakes-winner Unified Alliance  and the stakes-placed Unsung Melody .