Thirteen 3-year-old fillies including five stakes winners are nominated to the $50,000 Irish Day Handicap at Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 28.
The first route test for sophomore fillies, the one-mile Irish Day is the second of a four-race series for 3-year-old fillies, concluding Saturday, August 8 with the championship $65,000 Washington Oaks at 1 1/8 mile.
Ethan’s Baby did everything but win the Seattle Handicap last month. The track’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, Ethan’s Baby re-rallied in deep stretch but dropped a heartbreaking nose decision to Deb’s Wildcard in the 6 ½-furlong Seattle. A Washington-bred by Offlee Wild, Ethan’s Baby is 2-1-0 in four starts for trainer Howard Belvoir, with earnings of $47,293.
Suva Harbor, third in the Seattle, is a three-time winner at one mile and has faced many of the West’s top 3-year-old fillies while competing in the Las Virgenes (G1) at Santa Anita and the Sunland Park Oaks.
Quatre Cat is on a roll at Hastings Racecourse, winning the Vancouver track’s first two 3-year-old filly stakes by a combined 10 lengths. Her overall mark is 4-1-1 in seven starts with earnings of $109,363.
S U M Racer and Hip Ninety Three were both stakes winners at Turf Paradise this spring, while Springsprangsprung was stakes-placed at the Phoenix track.
$50,000 Irish Day Handicap, Sunday, June 28
3-Year-Old Fillies, One Mile
Horse. . . .Owner. . . . Trainer
Belle Hill (3-KY) Aithon Stable LLC Larry Ross
Citizen Kitty (3-WA) Highlander Racing Stable LLC Jeff Metz
Ethan’s Baby (3-WA) Todd & Shawn Hansen Howard Belvoir
Haleys Rainbow (3-ILL) Brushy Hill, Dedomenico, Polivka Equine Mike Puhich
Hip Ninety Three (3-KY) Linden Hatch & Brent Stapley F.C. Frazier
Perhaps a Pie (3-FLA) One Horse Will Do, Brewer & Stenslie Chris Stenslie
Pippa Bou Peep (3-WA) Essex & Dave & The Little Lady Stable Charles Essex
Quatre Cat (3-BC) Carmichael & Gregory Sylvea Gregory
S U M Racer (3-KY) Linden Hatch & Brent Stapley F.C. Frazier
Seeking the Light (3-KY) John & Janene Maryanski Blaine Wright
Sneaking a Kiss (3-CAL) One Horse Will Do, Tina & Scott Saxwold Chris Stenslie
Springsprangsprung (3-KY) Warlock Stables Jeff Metz
Suva Harbor (3-KY) Gary Barber Mike Puhich
Emerald Downs Photo: Ethan’s Baby prevails by 6 1/4 lengths in the 2014 Angie C Stakes at Emerald Downs.
