Godolphin's Derby City Distaff (G1) winner Matareya headlines a field of six fillies and mares entered for next Saturday's 33rd running of the $225,000 Chicago Stakes (G3 at Ellis Park.
The Chicago Stakes will be run at seven furlongs on the main track and was carded as Race 9 of 10 with a post time of 3:55 p.m. (CT) First post is 11:45 a.m.
Matareya, a 4-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile trained by Brad Cox, is a two-time Grade 1-winning sprinter. Prior to her top-level victory in the Derby City Distaff, Matareya won last year's Acorn Stakes (G1) as a 3-year-old. Matareya has one prior start at Ellis Park when she broke her maiden as a 2-year-old by 4½ lengths. Jockey Flavien Prat, who has been aboard Matareya for her last six starts, will be in the saddle from post No. 2.
Another Grade 1 winner that entered the Chicago Stakes is Peter Blum Thoroughbreds' Society. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Society won last year's Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx. In her most recent start, the 4-year-old Gun Runner filly faded to ninth in the 1 1/16-mile La Troienne Stakes (G1) but will cut back in distance in the Chicago Stakes with Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle from post 5.
The complete field for the Chicago Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
1. Hidden Connection (Luis Saez, Bret Calhoun)
2. Matareya (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox)
3. Be Like Water (Brian Hernandez Jr., Vicki Oliver)
4. Stella Noir (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux)
5. Society (Tyler Gaffalione, Steve Asmussen)
6. Drifaros (Martin Garcia, Teresa Pompay)
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