Ghalia Heads Full Field of Fillies in Eight Belles

A full field of 14 sophomore fillies have been signed up for the $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Kentucky Trailer (G2) going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs May 5.

Undefeated Ghalia drew co-highweight of 120 pounds. The Medaglia d'Oro   filly began her career in January with a wire-to-wire maiden victory and scored in allowance company in the same manner in February. She came from mid-pack to take the Sunland Park Oaks at 1 1/16 miles and cuts back in distance here.

Florida Fabulous scored by double-digit lengths in her first start in February and won an allowance heat at the end of March. She has not trailed at any call in her two races.

Golden Mischief, who will also be toting 120 pounds, has started 10 times and has the second-most experience of these fillies. She has twice won stakes sprints in Louisiana and is coming off a second-place effort in a stakes at Oaklawn Park in which she was moved up to first. She is a mid-pack runner proven at Churchill Downs and at the distance.

Union Strike invades from California and was a last-out winner in the Santa Paula Stakes. Last season she defeated eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Champagne Room in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1). After two routes in which she faltered, she is back to sprinting and will be dangerous.

Benner Island draws the rail after wintering at Oaklawn, where she was second in the Honeybee Stakes (G3). She is versatile and fits well here.

Let It Ride Mom has a pair of wins and two seconds at Woodbine and tries dirt for the first time. She’s shown a nice closing kick on the Tapeta and could surprise.

What What What is making her 14th start. She is proven in claiming company but was well-beaten by several Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) starters two back and by Ghalia in her last start, and needs to show improvement.

Cajun Delta Dawn draws outside and also must overcome a nearly six-month layoff after checking in second in the Delta Downs Princess Stakes (G3). She has been tough against fellow Florida-breds but has her work cut out for her here.

China Grove is the hunch play for Doobie Brothers fans and won a stakes event two back at Laurel Park. Her graded tries haven’t been much and she needs a big uptick.

Lovely Bernadette won the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill last year but that was her high-water mark and she’s been soundly defeated in her three ensuing starts.

Pretty City Dancer failed to contend in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) or the Davona Dale  Stakes (G2) in her last two after posting a nice second just a half-length off Kentucky Oaks starter Tequilita in the Forward Gal Stakes (G2). She won the Spinaway Stakes (G1) last summer and seeks a return to her 2-year-old form.

Gris Gris has an allowance win at Churchill to her credit and had a troubled trip in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2), finishing fourth. She’s placed in a couple of stakes and will need to find more.

Laney has won in lesser company and checked in third in the Adena Springs Beaumont Stakes (G3) last month. She has won twice at this distance.

I'mluckysgirl has not threatened since breaking her maiden and is ambitiously spotted.

Eight Belles S. Presented by Kentucky Trailer (G2)

Churchill Downs, Friday, May 05, 2017, Race 8

• 7f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 2:53 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Benner Island (KY)	Javier Castellano	118	Brad H. Cox	10/1
2	2Union Strike (KY)	Brice Blanc	118	Mick Ruis	3/1
3	3Lovely Bernadette (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	James P. DiVito	30/1
4	4Pretty City Dancer (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	118	Mark E. Casse	8/1
5	5Gris Gris (KY)	Mike E. Smith	118	Bernard S. Flint	20/1
6	6Laney (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Eddie Kenneally	20/1
7	7Golden Mischief (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1
8	8I'mluckysgirl (KY)	Miguel Mena	118	James T. Spicer	30/1
9	9Florida Fabulous (FL)	Paco Lopez	118	David Fawkes	9/2
10	10Ghalia (KY)	John R. Velazquez	120	Todd A. Pletcher	7/2
11	11Let It Ride Mom (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	Mark E. Casse	8/1
12	12China Grove (KY)	James Graham	118	Ben Colebrook	30/1
13	13What What What (KY)	Flavien Prat	118	Doug F. O'Neill	20/1
14	14Cajun Delta Dawn (FL)	Juan C. Leyva	118	David Fawkes	15/1