Wavell Avenue Tries Bed o' Roses Handicap

Last year's TwinSpires.com Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Wavell Avenue will attempt to get untracked in 2016 when she faces an expected five other fillies and mares in the $150,000 Bed o' Roses Handicap (gr. III) June 25 at Belmont Park.

Michael Dubb, David Simon, Head of Plains Partners, and Bethlehem Stable's Wavell Avenue will look for her first win this season when she makes her third 2016 start in Saturday's seven-furlong test. The 5-year-old Harlington   mare will carry the high weight of 123 pounds.

Trained by Chad Brown, Wavell Avenue made her first start since the Breeders' Cup in the Madison Stakes (gr. I) April 9 at Keeneland, where she finished third behind Sheer Drama and Stopchargingmaria. She then ran fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the Humana Distaff (gr. I) May 7 at Churchill Downs, finishing 8 1/4 lengths behind Taris.

At Belmont, Wavell Avenue has won half of her previous four starts, most recently finishing second, a half-length behind eventual champion female sprinter La Verdad, in last year's Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II).

Saturday's field also includes 2014 Frizette Stakes (gr. I) winner By the Moon, who has registered top-three finishes in three of her past four starts—including two grade I placings—but has not won since a four-length score in the Caesar's Wish Stakes in March 2015 at Laurel Park. Jay Em Ess Stable campaigns the 4-year-old Indian Charlie filly.