BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Gerrards Cross, just a neck shy of winner Hark Theangelssing when second in the Stormy Blues at Laurel Park in June, returns for redemption over the same course Saturday in the $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash. Trained by Kathleen O’Connell for breeder James M. Chicklo of Ocala, the 3-year-old Gerrards Cross is one of 15 fillies and mares, including five on the also-eligible list, entered to go six furlongs on the Laurel turf.
An out-of-state victory in a non-graded stakes by Florida-bred Gerrards Cross would a $4,000 Export Incentive for Chicklo as breeder paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
By Midshipman out of the Concerto mare Spanish Concert, multiple stakes-winner Gerrards Cross has developed into exactly what her pedigree suggests, a sprinter on turf.
She showed that speed in the five-and-a-half-furlong Stormy Blues, leading by a length-and-a-half at the top of the lane under jockey Jeiron Barbosa, but was then challenged by Hark Theangelssing on the outside in the final furlong. She eventually lost by a neck to that rival, finishing second in a sizzling 1:02.04, but came to win the $98,000 Monmouth County by two-and-a-half lengths at the same distance on the Monmouth Park grass on July 5.
O’Connell sent her to Saratoga Race Course for her most recent test, again going five-and-a-half furlongs—this time on a yeilding Mellon Turf Course—in the $200,000 Galway (Listed). At odds of 13-1, Gerrards Cross was on top early through a pressured half-mile, eventually finishing third, a length-and-a-half behind winner Cadenza.
Gerrards Cross has a reliable career record of three wins, a second and a third in seven starts while banking $191,800.
She teams with Barbosa again for the first time since the Stormy Blues and they have drawn post five.
Prominent contenders include the Todd Pletcher-trained Capturing and Le Amazonia for trainer Victor Barboza Jr., both also coming into the Sensible Lady from last starts going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Saratoga grass.
Capturing, who has drawn just to the inside of Gerrards Cross to start from stall four, won a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming on July 10 while Le Amazonia was third in the $200,000 Smart N Fancy (Listed) over a yielding course on August 14.
Mychel Sanchez has the call on Capturing while Jaime Rodriguez will ride Le Amazonia from post nine.
Others set to line up for the Sensible Lady include Somnium with jockey Jevian Toledo, Gift of Gab will have Jorge Ruiz up, no rider has been named for Obstreperous nor Wisconsin Gal, Johan Rosado has the call on on Secure’s Hope, Les Reys (Fr) will have Samuel Marin in the saddle and Forest Boyce takes the reins on Mopo. On the also-eligible list are Come to Mama, Minty, Quiet Confidence, Cougar Cocktail and Mystic Realm.
Return to the September 9 issue of Wire to Wire
