A strapping, nearly-black gelding, Catnip exits a longshot, but close third to Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Jan. 27. Trainer Mike Stidham looked at Catnip's Ragozin sheet and that encouraged him to swing for the fences in a hot renewal of the G1 Dubai Turf, bypassing a considerably easier spot in last weekend's GII Muniz Memorial S. at the Fair Grounds.

“He ran a huge new top in that race,” the freshly arrived Stidham said Wednesday. “We had a choice of running him for $300,000 or $5 million and we decided to take a shot at the $5 million and brought him over. So far, so good.”

Catnip is a half-brother to five-time U.S. graded winner Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}), who was purchased by China Horse Club for $1.7 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2022 and went on to win a Group 3 while posting a pair of narrowly beaten seconds in Group 1 company in Australia for trainer Chris Waller.

.@PegasusWorldCup Turf third Catnip is one handsome looking horse in the Dubai Turf. #DWC24 pic.twitter.com/wvBE6CdUxX

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 27, 2024

On his last visit to Meydan, Stidham saddled 'TDN Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) to a victory in the 2021 Dubai World Cup.

Repole Stable and St Elias Stable's GI Pegasus World Cup third Crupi (Curlin) was out in the 5-6 a.m. window reserved for the international contingent, his chestnut colt gleaming under the floodlights before and after a couple of spins around the track. Repole will not be in attendance, as he will be on hand at Gulfstream Park to watch 'TDN Rising Star' and champion Fierceness (City of Light) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby, but here to represent the stable are Pat Cummings and a sleep-deprived Alex Solis II. You'll have to contact him for details.

The American-based, but locally owned Clapton (Brethren) is hard to miss when he comes onto the track, his orange tack and matching polos giving him absolutely no cover. After some internal discussion, the Florida-bred was given the green light for a World Cup bid, and connections are quietly confident he will fire his best shot Saturday.

Trainer Todd Fincher and owner Joe Peacock, Jr. made their way across the track to the starting gate where G1 Saudi Cup hero Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) got acquainted with the stalls before showing good energy in his track gallop. He appears a fresh horse despite his recent travels.

So popular was Jun Park and Delia Nash's Sibelius (Not This Time) leading up to last year's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen that a DailySibelius hashtag was created on X. By the looks of it, he's grown his fan club and is always good for hamming it up at the outside fence beneath his adoring work rider Allyson Walker.

SIBELIUS with @AllysonKWalker went for an easy spin around the track in G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen prep @RacingDubai #HorseRacing #DubaiWorldCup #sportsphotography #Nikon pic.twitter.com/MhfArDQKMh

— Martin Dokoupil (@Martins_Images) March 27, 2024

Also making a good impression was fellow Golden Shaheen entrant Nakatomi (Firing Line), a rare Dubai runner for trainer Wesley Ward. Hopkins (Quality Road), beaten just a length into fourth by Sibelius last year, went through his gears down the lane Wednesday.

Gander S. winner Pandagate (Arrogate) was led onto the track by assistant trainer Miguel Clement, with his wife Acacia Clement not far behind. The New York-bred gray–his late sire's literal body double–stood for what felt like an eternity on the outside rail before taking off around Meydan and wrapping things up with a visit to the gate.

Caramel Chip (Midshipman) looks to have it all to do against the likes of Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) and Isolate (Mark Valeski) in Saturday's G2 Godolphin Mile, but win, lose or draw, the Jose D'Angelo trainee looks to be doing as well as he could be ahead of the $1-million contest.

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“He broke off behind another horse and went on by, finished well and galloped out nicely. Very pleased with the way he went,” said trainer Mike Stidham.

The 5-year-old is a four-time winner from his 10 trips to the post, including a victory in the GIII Monmouth S. last summer followed by a narrow runner-up effort in the GI United Nations S. at the Jersey Shore oval. The half-brother to five-time graded winner and five-time GI/G1SP Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}) was returning from a 5 1/2-month layoff in the Pegasus, having finished down the field in the GI Arlington Million last August.

Connections could easily have opted for a far easier test in the GII Muniz Memorial S. Mar. 23, but have elected to shoot for the stars in the desert.

“We felt like he stepped up in the Pegasus, only got beat 3/4 of a length behind Warm Heart,” Stidham said. “This is a $5-million race and it's another Grade I and although he's a gelding, the Moores still own the mare. So it was kind of an exciting race to consider. We kind of let him tell us based on how he's been doing since the Pegasus.

“In my opinion, the horse has moved forward off the Pegasus, he ran a 4 1/2 on the Ragozin sheets, a huge lifetime top for him, and we just kind of felt, 'hey, he's earned a shot,' the trainer continued. “Going over there and challenging the top horses in the world from Japan and Britain and Hong Kong, that's asking a lot, but he just got beat to Warm Heart and she would be considered one of the favorites for a race like this.”

The Stidham barn is one-for-one from their trips to Dubai, having been represented by 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) three years ago.

“This will be our second try over there,” Stidham said. “The only difference is this time we won't have to wear a mask. We got to go right in the middle of COVID and it was empty and everyone had masks on.”

Japanese ace Christophe Lemaire has the call in the Dubai Turf.

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Godolphin homebred Central Avenue (Street Sense), a first-out winner at Colonial Downs last August, was second in the Oct. 7 GI Frizette S. and, most recently, third in the Nov. 25 GII Golden Rod S. The dark bay filly worked four furlongs in :47.80 (2/82) at Fair Grounds Sunday.

“She's been working well at Fair Grounds,” Stidham said of the filly. “We're looking at her for the preps that lead to the [GII] Fair Grounds Oaks, so we'll see.”

Stidham also has high hopes for Pin Oak Stud's Phantom Speed (Arrogate), a $700,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. The gray colt just missed when second in his six-furlong unveiling at Fair Grounds Nov. 24. He was third behind the Brad Cox-trained Ethan Energy (Uncle Mo) when stretched to 1 1/16 miles Dec. 23.

“I expected a little bit better, but the Cox horse looks like something special,” Stidham said of that second effort. “Phantom Speed is a big, heavy colt. Certainly he's going to benefit from the race and improve physically and mentally from that run. That came up a very solid maiden race. Anytime you've got a well-bred $700,000 yearling that comes out and runs a big race like he did the first time out, you begin thinking along the lines [of Derbys], but we're a long way out from thinking that high.”

Stidham's New Orleans-based string also includes last year's GIII Monmouth Cup winner Catnip (Kitten's Joy) and Saturday's Pago Hop S. winner Tufani (Distorted Humor).

“He's really doing well,” Stidham said of Catnip. “Training very well. We're happy with him. We're waiting to see if we get an invitation to the [Jan. 27 GI] Pegasus Turf. If that happens, we'll probably go there. If it doesn't happen then we'll definitely be looking at the [Jan. 20] Colonel Bradley.”

Of the now 4-year-old Tufani, who was winning her first stakes race, Stidham said, “Tufani has always shown us a lot of talent since we first got her. She's developed. She's learned to relax. I think the arrow is pointing up for her.”

The Stidham barn reached $5,098,073 in earnings in 2023, led by GI Breeders' Cup Classic third-place finisher Proxy (Tapit).

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Given a positive ride from gate one by Joel Rosario in this fresh-up run, the homebred 4-year-old–off as the 5-2 third choice–somewhat surprisingly raced closest in attendance to the last-out GII Fayette S. winner passing under the wire for the first time and remained glued inside into the first turn before popping out into the two path passing the seven-furlong marker. West Will Power was the controlling speed through fractions of :23.94 and :48.51, but Proxy remained his shadow into the second bend and was asked to come after the front-runner in earnest fully three furlongs from home. Proxy drifted wide off the final corner and still had the pacesetter–who was not lying down–to catch entering the final eighth of a mile. But, shoulder to shoulder with the West runner with time ticking away, Proxy knuckled down to hit the front late and edged clear. Fulsome (Into Mischief) came on late to be third.

“This was his first start in a few months, so he was a little sharper leaving the gate,” said Rosario, winning his second Clark in four years (Tom's d'Etat, 2019). “He was a little bit further back in his last start here in the Stephen Foster than I expected him to be. I knew [West Will Power] was really the only horse that had early speed in the race so I didn't want to let him get away easily. He was very professional today throughout. [West Will Power] didn't want to give in. He was very tough on the lead and I had to work pretty hard to get by him.”

GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) raced inside and at the tail through the opening exchanges and gradually improved his position down the backstretch. But he came under heavy Sonny Leon urging three furlongs out and trailed in sixth.

“He was in a good position at the rail but turning for home he didn't have anything left at all,” said trainer Eric Reed. “We knew it was a big risk running him back in three weeks. Sometimes you're the hero and sometimes you're the goat.”

Proxy made a bit of noise on the 2021 Triple Crown trail, finishing runner-up to the late Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in the GIII Lecomte S. and to adjudicated GI Kentucky Derby hero Mandaloun (Into Mischief) in the GII Risen Star S., but the bay was only fourth in the GII Louisiana Derby and again in the GIII Lexington S. before connections called time on a Classics program and his season. Proxy ran with credit once returned to action this spring, rounding out the exacta underneath Olympiad in the GII New Orleans Classic S. ahead of a third in Keeneland's GIII Ben Ali S. He closed well to be second in the June 4 Blame S. ahead of his Stephen Foster effort, where he was five lengths adrift at the wire.

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Proxy becomes the 30th Grade I winner, 98th graded winner and 157th black-type winner for Tapit and was the second new graded winner on the afternoon out of a daughter of the late Include, joining GIII Comely S. heroine Sixtythreecaliber.

Panty Raid, a $260,000 purchase by Glencrest Farm out of the 2006 Keeneland April Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, was one of the more versatile performers of her generation, winning the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. on conventional dirt in May 2007 and the GI American Oaks on turf two months later before doubling her Grade I tally in that year's Juddmonte Spinster S. over the Keeneland all-weather.

Panty Raid was purchased by John Ferguson on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed's operation for $2.5 million at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, but took some time to make her mark in the breeding shed. Her first foal of note was Proxy's year-older half-sister Micheline, a Grade II winner on turf and second in the GI QE II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. Panty Raid, whose full-sister St. John's River went excruciatingly close in the 2011 GI Kentucky Oaks, foaled a Frosted colt in 2021, a filly by Into Mischief this past May and was among the first book of mares bred to Tapit's two-time Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality.

Friday, Churchill Downs
CLARK S. PRESENTED BY NORTON HEALTHCARE-GI, $750,000, Churchill Downs, 11-25, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.89, ft.
1–PROXY, 125, c, 4, by Tapit
                1st Dam: Panty Raid (MGISW, $1,052,380), by Include
                2nd Dam: Adventurous Di, by Private Account
                3rd Dam: Tamaral, by Seattle Slew
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael Stidham; J-Joel Rosario. $458,970. Lifetime Record: 13-4-5-2, $971,220. *1/2 to Micheline (Bernardini), GSW & GISP, $695,103. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue- style pedigree.
2–West Will Power, 125, h, 5, Bernardini–Wild Promises, by Wild Event. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $148,700.
3–Fulsome, 125, c, 4, Into Mischief–Flourish, by Distorted Humor. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $74,350.
Margins: 3/4, 2HF, 3 3/4. Odds: 2.54, 1.78, 7.23.
Also Ran: Last Samurai, Injunction, Rich Strike. Scratched: Trademark. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Total handle for the 26-day live racing meet was $74,940,840 for a daily average of $2,882,340, up more than 29% from the 2021 average daily handle mark of $2,231,765 during that season's 21-day session. This race meet marked an all-time wagering high in the history of Colonial Downs.

“The revival of Virginia racing continues to grow as we once again set new all-time handle marks,” said John Marshall, Colonial Downs Group Executive Vice President, Operations. “It is gratifying to see Colonial Downs evolve into one of the nation's elite meets which is what our team set out to accomplish just four years ago. We congratulate all of those who aimed and worked at placing Virginia racing in such an admirable position.”

Purses for the season averaged a Virginia record of $612,000 up from 2021's $521,000 per day in purse distribution. A total of 1382 individual horses representing 321 trainers made a combined 2,179 starts for the season. Field size averaged 8.35 runners per race compared to the 7.17 national per race average.

Mike Stidham took home leading trainer honors with 13 victories. The owners' race ended in a dead-heat between David Ross's DARRS, Inc. and R. Larry Johnson each of whom visited the winner's circle on six occasions. Jevian Toledo won his first Colonial riding crown with 25 victories.

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Ten–and possibly 11–of the 16 horses that won stakes at Kentucky Downs last year are scheduled to return for the upcoming meet, which runs seven days between Sept. 1-14.

Trainer Mike Stidham said both 2021 GIII Ladies Turf winner Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}) and GIII WinStar Mint Million victor Pixelate (City Zip) will shoot for repeat stakes triumphs at the all-turf FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs. The $1-million GIII Mint Million S. is Sept. 3 and the $750,000 GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf is Sept. 10, which features five graded stakes.

“Kentucky Downs has always been on our schedule as long as the horses are doing well,” Stidham said. “We know they run well over that track, and that's a lot of money to turn down taking a shot at. Kentucky Downs is a meet we always look at hard, the money is so good. We target trying to run as many as we can there.”

Owned by Susan and John Moore, Princess Grace most recently was second by a half-length in the GI Beverly D. S. at Churchill Downs won by Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}). Princess Grace edged that mare by the same margin in last year's $750,000 Ladies Turf at a mile. Stidham said he's hoping Dalika also shows back up at Kentucky Downs, given the provision that the purse jumps to $1 million for registered Kentucky-breds if a Grade I winner runs in the race. (The base purse increases from $300,000 to $550,000 for non-Kentucky-breds such as the German-born Dalika.)

“We're rooting for her to come,” Stidham said, adding, “Princess Grace ran a great race in the Beverly D. like she generally does when things set up properly. She took the lead inside the eighth pole. It looked like we were going to be the winner, and Al Stall's mare came back on the inside. Not taking anything away from Dalika, but our filly had never been a mile and an eighth. It looked to me like the mile and an eighth is what got her more than the competition got her. And the distance was probably the difference-maker at Kentucky Downs.”

Stall confirmed that the tentative plan is in fact to run Dalika at Kentucky Downs.

Pixelate, owned by 2021 Kentucky Downs leading owner Godolphin, was third in Laurel's Prince George's County S. on July 16 in his only start of 2022. He won last year's $1-million Mint Million by 2 1/2 lengths over Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown).

“We got the one race off the layoff; he ran really well,” Stidham said. “We're hoping that race sets him up for a really big effort in his second start of the year. ”

Trainer Brad Cox also plans to bring back both of his 2021 Kentucky Downs stakes winners: Adventuring (Pioneerof the Nile) and Turnerloose (Nyquist).

Adventuring, also owned by Godolphin, won the $500,000 Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Oaks and is being pointed for the $550,000 AGS Ladies Marathon, which was elevated to Grade III status for 2022. In her only start as a 4-year-old, Adventuring won Mountaineer's West Virginia Senate President's Cup on Aug. 6. Cox said he isn't yet sure which race Turnerloose will go in. Turnerloose won last year's $500,000 Aristocrat Juvenile Fillies for owners Ike and Dawn Thrash. She was second by a half-length in Ellis Park's Centennial Distaff Mile against older fillies in her last start.

Other 2021 stakes-winners coming back include:

• Stall said that In Good Spirits (Ghostzapper), who like Dalika is owned by Louisvillian Paul Varga's Bal Mar Equine, will shoot for back-to-back wins in the $600,000 GIII The Mint Ladies Sprint, most recently having finished fourth in Saratoga's restricted De La Rose at a mile.
• Koala Princess (More Than Ready), winner of last year's $500,000 Ainsworth Stakes, was scratched out of Saturday's $200,000 GII Lake Placid S. at Saratoga to run in the $500,000 Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey Music City for 3-year-old fillies Sept. 11 at Kentucky Downs, trainer Arnaud Delacour said in a text.
• Tobys Heart (Jack Milton), last year's Music City winner, is targeting the Sept. 10 Ladies Sprint after finishing third in Ellis Park's 5 1/2-furlong Laguna Distaff Turf Sprint. Trainer Brian Lynch said he believes Kentucky Downs' 6 1/2-furlong distance will better suit the 4-year-old filly.
• Trainer Paulo Lobo said the Brazilian-bred In Love (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) could go in either the Mint Million or the stakes he won in 2021: the $400,000 FanDuel Tapit S. restricted to horses that have not won a stakes this year. In Love used last year's Tapit as a springboard to taking Keeneland's GI Keeneland Turf Mile (now the Coolmore Turf Mile) in his next start. Lobo and owner Bonne Chance Farm also won last year's $1-million GII Kentucky Turf Cup with Imperador (Arg) (Treasure Beach {GB}), but that horse has been retired to stud in his native Argentina.
• Family Way (Uncle Mo), winner of the 2021 Ladies Marathon, will attempt the repeat in that 1 5/16-mile race after finishing third in the Beverly D., trainer Brendan Walsh said.
• Hendy Woods (Uncle Mo), winner of Kentucky Downs' restricted $400,000 One Dreamer last year, is targeting the Ladies Turf, said David Carroll, who runs Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse's Churchill Downs division.

An 11th stakes winner from last year is being pointed to the upcoming meet but faces a tight schedule. Trainer Pavel Matejka hopes to make a race to be determined with Accredit (Flatter), who paid $75 to win last year's $750,000 Big Ass Fans Dueling Grounds Derby. Accredit hasn't run since and has three timed workouts at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington. However, Matejka also has a private half-mile turf training gallop that goes uphill and downhill, which could boost Accredit's fitness.

“We are hopeful that we can make it there,” Matejka said in a text. “He has been training very well and is pretty close being ready.”

Among other past Kentucky Downs stakes winners expected back: Donegal Racing's $3-million earner Arklow (Arch) will shoot for a record third victory in the $1-million GII Kentucky Turf Cup, whose winner gets a fees-paid berth in the $4-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 5. It will be Arklow's fifth appearance at Kentucky Downs, having finished second last year by a neck and in 2019 to go with victories in 2020 and 2018.

   Totally Boss (Street Boss), the 2019 FanDuel Turf Sprint winner for trainer Rusty Arnold, is on course for that $1-million Grade II race in his return from a year's retirement. Totally Boss finished fourth by 3/4 of a length in Ellis Park's Twin Spires Turf Sprint in the second start of his comeback.

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Graduating at second asking in September of 2020 at Saratoga while besting future stakes winners Caddo River (Hard Spun) and Greatest Honour (Tapit), the $700,000 Keeneland September buy was laid up for 364 days and returned with a runner-up effort at the Spa Sept. 4 that earned him a 105 Beyer. Clearing his one-other-than allowance condition next out at Keeneland Oct. 14, he was a sneaky-good fourth with a wide trip in the GI Cigar Mile H. Dec. 4 at Aqueduct before running away with a Gulfstream allowance/optional claimer by 7 1/4 lengths Jan. 15. Returning to stake company in the Mineshaft, he kicked away to a 2 1/4-length score, clicking off his final five-sixteenths in a scorching :29.53 and setting a new track record for 1 1/16 miles.

Stretching out to nine furlongs for the first time, Olympiad's chief competition appears to come from Godolphin homebred Proxy (Tapit) and Woodford Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm and Rock Ridge Racing's Promise Keeper (Constitution). Proxy appeared to be a GI Kentucky Derby contender last winter when running second in the local GIII Lecomte S. and GII Risen Star S., but was shelved following somewhat disappointing fourth-place runs in the Louisiana Derby and GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. Making his first start in over 10 months in a local allowance/optional claimer Feb. 25 and rallied from off the pace to triumph going away by 3 3/4 lengths.

“I couldn't be happier,” trainer Mike Stidham said. “He's had three really good works since his last race. He ran against top quality horses last year as a 3-year-old. It's just a matter of seeing if he's good enough to compete with the top horses this year, but he's given me every indication that he can. Given the way he ran in his last race, nine furlongs should absolutely be better than 1 1/16 miles for him. He was very relaxed and came home finishing nicely. I'm very much looking forward to the added distance with him.”

Promise Keeper recorded three open-lengths wins in his first five starts last year, culminating with a 2 1/4-length success in the GIII Peter Pan S. at Belmont before finishing a close fourth in the GIII Ohio Derby in his 3-year-old finale June 26 at Thistledown. Returning off the bench in the GIII Razorback H. Feb. 12 at Oaklawn, the chestnut overcame a troubled start and a wide trip, closing well to be fourth.

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Trainer Chad Brown, who saddled three of the last four winners of this event, also sends out Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom). A seven-time stakes winner, the Peter Brant runner's resume is missing just one thing, a Grade I victory and she will likely be favored to get it in this six-horse event. Kicking off this term with a win in Aqueduct's Plenty of Grace S. Apr. 11, the chestnut was fourth in Belmont's GI Just a Game S. June 5 and captured the De La Rose. She enters this off a half-length second to her stablemate in the First Lady.

Mike Stidham is also represented by an accomplished runner here in Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}). Closing 2020 with a win in the GII Mrs. Revere S., the Susan and John Moore homebred opened her 2021 account with a win in the GIII Dr. James Penny Memorial S. July 6 at Parx. She followed suit with wins in the Aug. 7 GII Yellow Ribbon H. and Sept. 11 GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. Princess Grace led every step of the way in Del Mar's GII Goldikova S. Nov. 6, but yielded late to be third.

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And New York-based trainer Chad Brown, who has shipped in nine winners from his deep bench of grass runners in the past, hasn't been heard from yet.

But several other prominent Midwest- and East Coast-based conditioners have, leading to expectations in the racing office of quality and quantity invaders for the main events on the Bing Crosby Season's final four days.

A sneak peek, with horse names being withheld until close of entries:

Hollywood Turf Cup, Friday, November 26th, Grade 2, $250,000, 1 ½ miles (turf), 3-year-olds and up: Trainer Mike Maker has placed five in nomination for a race Brad Cox won last year with Arklow.

Hollywood Derby, Saturday, November 27th, Grade 1, $400,000, 1 1/8 miles (turf), 3-year-olds: Wesley Ward, Dallas Stewart, Ken McPeek, Maker (2), Jack Sisterson (2), Graham Motion, and Gregory Sacco have nominees. Brown has won it three times, sending out Annals of Time (2016), Raging Bull (2018), and Domestic Spending last year.

Seabiscuit Handicap, Saturday, November 27th, Grade 2, $250,000, 1 1/16 miles (turf), 3-year-olds and up: One horse from Japan is listed while Maker has submitted two names and Motion one. Phil D'Amato has carried the locally-based trainer banner to wins with Midnight Storm (2015), Hunt (2017), and Count Again (2020). Add Richard Baltas' win with Next Shares in 2019 and this has been a good Festival race for the home team.

Jimmy Durante Stakes, Saturday, November 27, Grade 3, $100,000, 1 mile (turf), 2-year-old fillies: Maker and Motion (2) have nominees for an event dominated by shippers over the years. Brown-trained Fluffy Socks won last year. Mike Stidham won the two years before that and George Weaver, Motion, and Mark Casse have also scored in the seven editions at Del Mar.

Cecil B. DeMille Stakes, Sunday, November 28, Grade 3, $100,000, 1 mile (turf), 2-year-olds: Motion has an early nominee in an event that has been good for locals. Smooth Like Strait won for Mike McCarthy in 2019 and Beer Can Man for Mark Glatt last year. Both horses ran during the recent Breeders' Cup Week here.

Matriarch Stakes, Sunday, November 28, Grade 1, $400,000, 1 mile (turf), older fillies and mares: Trainer Joe Sharp has two nominated and Stidham one for the climactic stakes race of the meeting. Brown has shipped in three winners in seven meetings, among them Viadera in 2020.

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Once again Micheline will have her special accommodations – a traveling stall of wood-lined farm gates with a fitted tarp for a ceiling – that is set up outside trainer Mike Stidham's barn. During her early training in Florida, Micheline was so claustrophobic that she was turned out in a paddock instead of residing in the barn. Before she relocated to Stidham's base at Fair Hill training center in Maryland, an outdoor stall was built.

“Whenever she leaves Fair Hill, her portable stall goes with her,” Stidham said. “She is happy and comfortable in that.”

The unique stabling is undeniably a success as Micheline has won five of 17 starts and earned $680,103. Except for her unplaced effort in Keeneland's Darley Alcibiades (G1) in 2019, Micheline has raced exclusively on turf.

In addition to being picky about her stabling, Micheline prefers a specific grass footing that is not too soft. In her most recent effort, she was a close sixth in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (L) last month but encountered slight interference in the race that compromised her chances.

“It all has to do with the race track,” Stidham said. “As long as the grass is firm, she will run her 'A' race. She tried to do that at Kentucky Downs but everywhere she went through the stretch, she got stopped and had nowhere to go. And she only got beat a couple of lengths.”

Florent Geroux, who rode her in the Queen Elizabeth II Presented by Dixiana, is back on board from post position six in the Rood & Riddle Dowager.

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