BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. has Battle Cry cross-entered in two stakes this weekend at Delta Downs and Laurel Park in search of a first stakes victory for the 6-year-old Florida-bred mare owned by Skull Stable.
Battle Cry is 5-1 on the morning line for the $100,000 Treasure Chest for fillies and mares going a mile at Delta Downs on Friday and is among eight fillies and mares entered for the $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go set for a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Laurel on Saturday.
She is equally proficient at both distances having won four of seven with two seconds at a mile while winning five with one second and two thirds in nine starts at eight-and-a-half furlongs.
Both races provide easier company for Battle Cry, who exits a third-place finish behind winner Soul of an Angel in the Grade 3 Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park on Sept. 21. This past Saturday, Soul of an Angel won the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (Grade 1) at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
This will be just the third start of the year for Battle Cry as she also finished fifth in the $75,000 My Pal Chrisy overnight handicap won by Florida-bred Beth’s Dream going a mile at Gulfstream Park on June 23.
Barboza is hoping Battle Cry returns to the winning form she had last year when she won five of nine starts. Three of those victories came consecutively against optional claimers at Gulfstream Park from August through October.
Battle Cry is by Prospective out of Fort Carillon, by Runaway Groom and was bred in Florida by Amalio Ruiz Lozano. Her career ledger reflects 13 wins, seven seconds and six thirds from 39 starts with earnings of $399,973.
She has drawn post five in the Treasure Chest and is listed at 5-1 on the morning line. Leonel Reyes has the call.
Her main foe in the Treasure Chest appears to be Free Like a Girl, the 4-5 morning line favorite for trainer Chasey Pomier.
Free Like a Girl has an affinity for the Delta Downs course having won six of nine starts there including the $100,000 Magnolia going seven furlongs on Oct. 11. The 5-year-old mare also has won two of her last three including the $500,00 Pink Ribbon going seven furlongs at Charles Town Races on Aug. 23. In one start between the two victories, Free Like a Girl was eighth in the Grade 2 Locust Grove won by Muscle Mischief at Churchill Downs on Sept. 14.
Pomier has given the riding assignment on Free Like a Girl to Elio Barrera and they have post six.
Her main competition should she travel to Laurel is likely to come from Foxy Junior and fellow Florida-bred Foggy Night.
Foxy Junior has won five of her last six including two restricted stakes in her last two starts. She won the $100,000 Plum Pretty for state-bred fillies and mares going a mile-and-70-yards at Parx on Sept. 21 and the Maryland Million Distaff going seven furlongs at Laurel on Oct. 12.
Trainer Bernard Houghton has named Jomar Torres to ride Foxy Junior from post three.
Foggy Night, who won the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks and the $200,000 Catherine Sophia last year, is winless in three starts this year for trainer Robert Reid Jr.
The 4-year-old daughter of Journeyman Stud’s leading sire Khozan was second to Irish Maxima in her last race on Oct. 19 at Parx when facing upper level, $100,000 optional claiming fillies and mares.
Owned by Pine Brook Farm, Foggy Night has earned $487,450 from four wins and six seconds in 15 career starts. She is out of Settling Seas, by Stormy Atlantic and was bred in Florida by Brent and Crystal Fernung.
Foggy Night will be ridden from post six by Abner Adorno.
