BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Greatest Joy, whose lone start in stakes company produced a sixth in the $249,000 Debutante on dirt at Ellis Park, stays home on the Presque Isle Downs synthetic for her next added-money try in Friday’s $100,000 Presque Isle Debutante. Run at six-and-one-half furlongs on the track’s all-weather course, the Presque Isle Debutante has attracted a field of nine 2-year-old fillies.
A victory in the race would, in addition to the winner’s check, earn a $4,000 Export Incentive from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association for breeder Gail Rice’s Divine Light Healing Ministries of Reddick, Florida, who also owns the chestnut filly.
Greatest Joy scored on debut in a five-furlong maiden special weight for fillies at Presque Isle in July, becoming the first winner for her sire Greatest Honour. Kevin Rice then sent her to Ellis Park for the seven-furlong Debutante where after a slow start, she was last of eight initially, but improved to finish sixth.
Rice elected to return her to synthetic for her next two races, first against males in a competitive first condition, $62,500 optional claiming going six furlongs on August 19 at Presque Isle. She finished third, beaten by winner Bossy Wossy, the 2-1 program favorite in the $150,000 Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial, also set for Friday at Presque Isle; and runner-up and Florida-bred stablemate Uncle Kef, the 9-2 morning line third choice in the Dixon.
In her last race, Greatest Joy was second to Almighty One in a first condition, $62,500 optional claiming for fillies, again going six furlongs at Presque Isle. She faces Almighty One again Friday.
Greatest Joy is out of Rossellini, by Freud and has earned $29,750 in her four races.
Addiel Ayala will get the leg up on Greatest Joy and they have drawn post four. Greatest Joy is 8-1.
Royal Companion is the 8-5 morning line favorite based on her last two wins from three starts.
Trained by Michael Trombetta, the bay daughter of War of Will won her second start by four-and-a-half lengths, defeating maiden special weight fillies going five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Colonial Downs on July 16. Royal Companion was nearly as impressive last out at the same distance on the inner turf at Colonial, winning the $125,000 Dolly Madison by two-and-three-quarters lengths on August 29.
A Little River Run Racing homebred, Royal Companion has earned $131,875 in her three races.
She has post five and jockey Paco Lopez.
Completing the field are Chef’s Kiss with Israel Rodriguez aboard, Our Sweet Belle will have Angel Rodriguez in the saddle, By Her Decree has Pietro Moran accepting the riding assignment, jockey Edgard Zayas has the engagement on Downforce, Roses Thunder will have Angel Diaz up, Axel Concepcion will guide Queen Ellen and Gaddiel Martinez takes the reins on Almighty One.
Return to the September 17 issue of Wire to Wire
