Cathryn Sophia Heads Ashland

Unbeaten, untested Cathryn Sophia will need to bring her "A" game to Keeneland for the April 9 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I). Cash is King's daughter of Street Boss   will stretch to 1 1/16 miles for the Ashland, a major prep for the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).



Cathryn Sophia drew post 3 for the Ashland and she's been installed the even-money morning-line favorite. the $500,000 race that drew just four other sophomore fillies. Javier Castellano will ride.



Impressive in two outings at 2, Cathryn Sophia introduced herself to the 3-year-old filly division Jan. 30 with a 5 1/2-length runaway in the Gulfstream Park's Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II). A seven-length win in the one-mile Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale Stakes (gr. I) put her in the conversation to perhaps challenge Songbird as the elite sophomore filly in the country.



Trainer John Servis bypassed last week's Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II) in favor of the Keeneland's Ashland and his bay filly tuned up for the race April 3 with a :48 1/5 half-mile work over the strip.

"We're here mainly because of the grade I status," Servis said. "If we are fortunate enough to win, that kind of puts that behind us—an insurance policy for us."



Cathryn Sophia will be facing racing royalty in the Ashland in the form of Rachel's Valentina, Stonestreet Stables' homebred daughter of Bernardini  —Rachel Alexandra. She has not started since finishing second over the Keeneland track in last year's 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). It is a tall order to tackle grade I, two-turn company off more than a five-month layoff, but she's produced a steady work tab at Palm Beach Downs in South Florida preparing for her seasonal bow.



A maiden winner first time out at Saratoga Race Course last August, she added the Spa's seven-furlong Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) to her resume last September. Rachel's Valentina is listed at 3-1 and will be ridden by Florent Geroux.



Also returning off a layoff is Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) winner Carina Mia, who prepped for the Ashland Tuesday morning with a :35 1/5 three-furlong blowout for trainer Bill Mott.



Three Chimneys Farm's daughter of Malibu Moon  —Miss Simpatia, by Southern Halo, broke her maiden at Keeneland last Oct. 29 by 9 3/4 lengths before taking Churchill Downs' Golden Rod by 4 1/4 lengths. She is the 7-5 second choice on the morning line.