BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Multiple graded stakes-placed Sweet Dani Girl tries to win at that level for the first time Saturday when she goes postward in the Grade 3 Gallorette, a $100,00 contest for fillies and mares at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Pimlico turf.
Trained by Christophe Clement, Sweet Dani has defeated Florida-bred fillies and mares in the last two runnings of Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf at Gulfstream and in the 2023 Pleasant Acres Distaff Turf. She also won the 2021 Mytlewood at Keeneland but has only hit the board in two of her four tries while facing graded-stakes company.
Her last two efforts at the top level came last year when second to Didia in the Grade 3 Modesty in May and when third in Henrietta Topham’s Grade 3 Mint Julep in June, both at Churchill Downs.
She exits a fourth-place finish behind Charlie’s Wish in the Pleasant Acres Distaff Turf on March 24 at Tampa Bay Downs after winning an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming on the turf at Gulfstream on Feb. 24.
Sweet Dani Girl is owned by Michael Dubb, Steven Bouchey, New Phoenix Stable and America’s Pastimes Stables LLC. She is by Jess’s Dream out of My Sweet Dani Girl, by Scat Daddy and was bred by J&J Stables LLC and Carlo Vaccarezza.
She has six wins, two seconds and two thirds in 16 career races with earnings of $499,610.
She is 4-1 on the morning line and Joel Rosario will ride from post one.
Trainer Chad Brown has the 6-5 morning line favorite in Fluffy Socks for Head of Plains Partners LLC.
Fluffy Socks looks to improve on a sixth-place effort in her last race in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley won by Beaute Cachee (Fr) at Keeneland on Apirl 13. Her last victory came in the Grade 2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on May 6 last year.
By Slumber (GB) out of Breakfast Time, by Kitten’s Joy, Fluffy Socks has five wins, nine seconds and four thirds in 25 career starts with earnings of $1,203,580.
The 6-year-old mare will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and they have drawn post seven.
Rounding the field are Dana’s Beauty with Luis Saez aboard, Blissful and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., Tequilera will have Jeiron Barbosa up, Five Towns (GB) has jockey Jorge Ruiz and Juan Hernandez rides Ascendancy. Cats Inthe Timber and Ninja Abarrio are entered under main track only conditions.
Return to May 17 issue of Wire to Wire