Neecie Marie Stretches Out Again for Dowager

Stretching out to 1 5/16 miles proved successful for Michael Milam's Neecie Marie  in the Sept. 7 Ladies Marathon Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs. Now, the 4-year-old Cross Traffic   filly will stretch out further to 1 1/2 miles in the $300,000 Dowager Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland Oct. 20.

The Pennsylvania-bred Robert "Butch" Reid Jr. trainee is well traveled with Keeneland set to become her eighth track in career start No. 15. A two-time graded stakes winner, Neecie Marie has banked $1,147,750.

Jockey Joel Rosario, who rode her to perfection in her 2 3/4-length triumph at Kentucky Downs, will need to navigate a trip from the far outside of the overflow field of 12.

Video: Light & Wonder Ladies Marathon S. (G3T)

On the rail is Merry Fox Stables' Three Priests , who was third to Neecie Marie at Kentucky Downs while making her United States debut. Then trained by Roger Varian, she has stayed stateside and joined the barn of Graham Motion.

Two other runners from the Ladies Marathon—fifth-place Chop Chop  and sixth-place Forever After All —return in this spot. Selective's Chop Chop won Keeneland's 1 1/2-mile Bewitch Stakes (G3T) in April. A win Sunday would make her just the third horse to sweep both of Keeneland's graded 1 1/2-mile events for fillies and mares.

Let'sbefrankbaby  ships in from Australia under the ownership of Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse. The 5-year-old Frankel   mare was victorious in her lone start at 1 1/2 miles.