Still There to Take On Seasoned Group in Gallant Bloom

PT and K Stable's lightly raced Still There is set to contend with a field of six other seasoned older fillies and mares in the $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) Sept. 23 at Belmont Park to prove her recent grade 1 effort was no fluke.

Although the New York-bred daughter of Union Rags  finished 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Marley's Freedom in the Aug. 25 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course after being bumped at the start, Still There finished in front of Lewis Bay, Union Strike, and Madison Stakes (G1) winner Finley'sluckycharm.

Multiple grade 1-placed Lewis Bay is set to carry the highweight of 121 pounds in the 6 1/2 furlong stakes, and Still There has been assigned 118 pounds. Union Strike, winless since April 2017, was given 116 pounds.

Trained by Dane Kobiskie, Still There made a successful maiden debut as a 4-year-old at Keeneland in April and followed with a 7 1/2-length score in a Belmont allowance going seven furlongs in May. 

After finishing last of six in a June 29 optional-claiming allowance race at the New York track, Still There shipped to Laurel Park for the July 28 Twixt Stakes and won by 3 1/2 lengths. David Cohen has the ride in the Gallant Bloom.

Chad Brown trainee Lewis Bay finished third just behind Still There in the Ballerina. The ultra consistent Bernardini  mare has only finished off the board once in 16 starts. She has finished third in four grade 1 races and second in the 2016 Mother Goose Stakes (G1). 

Now a 5-year-old, Lewis Bay has earned more than $1.16 million for owners Alpha Delta Stables. Regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount. Brown has also entered last-out Shine Again Stakes winner Your Love in the Gallant Bloom.

Chester and Mary Broman's Highway Star returns for trainer Rodrigo Ubillo and will defend her title in Sunday's race. 

The multiple graded stakes winner pulled a shoe in a half-mile bullet work Aug. 20 while training for the Ballerina, causing minor damage to her left hind hoof wall. After being closely monitored by Ubillo, Highway Star spiked a fever the morning of the race and was forced to miss it.

"She's been training well and she won this race last year, so she's familiar with everything," Ubillo said. "She's doing everything with a good energy. She's doing as well as she was last year, which was her best year. Everything is the same, so I'm happy. She's doing everything right in the morning, so we're just waiting for the race."

Carrying 120 pounds, Highway Star will be ridden by Luis Saez from post 4.

Lady Sheila Stable's Holiday Disguise is racing for the first time since June for trainer Linda Rice. If the 4-year-old Harlan's Holiday filly sticks to her 2018 pattern, she could prove successful this weekend. 

Holiday Disguise began the year with a score in the Biogio's Rose Stakes at Aqueduct and has since won every other race, with her most recent effort resulting in a third-place effort in the June 16 Dancin Renee Stakes at Belmont. Before that, she defeated Highway Star by a nose in the Critical Eye Stakes in May.

Holiday Disguise and jockey Junior Alvarado will leave from post 5.