BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Whatintheliteral will attempt her second straight stakes victory at Saratoga Race Course Thursday when she takes on 10 other juvenile fillies in the $150,000 Schuylerville going six furlongs.

The Jena Antonucci trainee will have to again defeat several rivals she faced in winning the $150,000 Astoria on June 6 at Saratoga, including second-place finisher Aoraki. That day, Whatintheliteral was pressured throughout the five-and-a-half furlongs by Aoraki before prevailing by a neck for her first career victory in her third start.

Aoraki returns for the Schuylerville as does Astoria fifth-place finisher West Memorial and beaten favorite The Queens M G, who was seventh after a slow start.

Whatintheliteral had previously been unsuccessful in two starts at Keeneland, finishing fifth and third against maiden special weight fillies, both times at four-and-a-half furlongs.

Bred by Bella Inizio Farm LLC, Whatintheliteral is by Lord Nelson out of Lilikoi, by Frued and has earned $89,129 in her three starts for owners horseOlogy Racing and Craig Steinhart.

Javier Castellano gets the return mount and they have drawn post eight.

Whatintheliteral tries to become the ninth Florida-bred winner of the Schuylerville, joining Catherinethegreat (2018), Jardin (2008), How About Now (1996), Turnback the Alarm (1991), Meadow Star (1990), Our Dancing Girl (1974), Laughing Bridge (1974) and Idealistic (1967).

The 7-2 morning line favorite is Complexion, who comes into the Schuylerville after a victory during the Belmont at Big A meet against maiden special weight fillies on June 14.

The daughter of Complexity was hustled to the lead from the beginning in her first race, despite stumbling out of the gate. She was able to lead at every point of call in the four-and-a-half-furlong contest before drawing off in the stretch to win by six-and-a-half lengths under John Velazquez.

Complexion is trained by Danny Gargan for Arnmore Thoroughbreds LLC, Carl F. Pascarella and Yurie Pascarella and earned $49,500 for her victory.

Velazquez will again be aboard and they have post five.

Trainer Steve Asmussen returns Aoraki for chance to avenge her loss in the Astoria.

A nearly two-length winner of a maiden special weight for fillies going five furlongs at Churchill Downs in her first career start on May 10, Aoraki is 8-1 on the morning line.

She is by Dominus out of Mountain Music, by Maclean’s Music and has earned $82,320 for owners OXO Equine LLC and Susan Montanye.

She will break from post one with jockey Joel Rosario. 

The Queens M G is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and looks for better racing luck Thursday after being bumped at the start of the Astoria as the 2-1 favorite.

In her first lifetime start, the daughter of Florida-bred Thousand Words was a head faster than runner-up West Memorial in a maiden special weight for fillies at Keeneland on April 7.

The Queens M G is 30-1 on the morning line and will break from post 11 with Dylan Davis aboard for the first time.

West Memorial is the only other stakes winner in the race having won the $247,000 Kentucky Juvenile by nearly two lengths at Churchill Downs on May 2. She is by first crop sire Caracaro and is trained by George Weaver for Swinbank Stables LLC.

West Memorial is 20-1 in the program and will be ridden from post two by Manny Franco.

Rounding out the field are Sherbini with Florent Geroux named to ride, Ricardo Santana Jr. will be aboard Slang, Carmen’s Candy Jar will have Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons, Dreamgirl and jockey Luis Saez, Long Neck Paula and rider Flavien Prat and Viggiedal will be guided by Tyler Gaffalione.

Return to the July 10 issue of Wire to Wire