Clash of the Amazon Daughters

On a weekend light in graded stakes offerings (other than the ultra-competitive G1 QE II Cup), I submit for your potential racing pleasure on Sunday race 2 at Belmont, a 5.5f MSW for 2-year-old fillies who all just happen to be first-time starters. However, if they are anything like their mothers, two in particular should engage in a ding-dong battle straight from the gate.

Edgar Prado teams with Kiaran McLaughlin for the ride aboard champion sprinter Xtra Heat’s first-born daughter, Elusive Heat (Elusive Quality). She comes into this race off a bullet 4f work from the gate over a good Belmont training track surface, in 47:87 (1/27). Her mother lost the 2001 Breeders' Cup Sprint to the Bobby Frankel-trained Squirtle Squirt:



From the rail, Bill Mott sends Javier Castellano aboard the gray Unbridled’s Song filly Sheikh’s Serenade, daughter of Desert Stormer who, with Kent Desormeaux up, held off Mr. Greeley to win the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Sprint:




Don't these two races get you into the mood for the great filly and mare racing we will see this year? Bet on the Breeders' Cup.