Go Big Blue Nation and Rideforthecause, two campaigners with similar come-from-behind running styles, will represent trainer Michael McCarthy in Sunday's $75,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at 1 ¼ miles on turf.
Both are coming out of the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes on May 8, where Rideforthecause was beaten a nose by Neige Blanche and Go Big Blue Nation was fourth, 2 ½ lengths behind her stablemate.
“Rideforthecause has a bit of a class edge (on Go Big Blue Nation),” McCarthy allowed, alluding to her last five races being graded events.
“She was unlucky to get beat last time (getting out-bobbed), but they're both training well. They have similar styles but the distance seems to suit both of them.”
Rideforthecause, a five-year-old Candy Ride mare owned by Alpha Beta Delta Stables, was fourth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine last Oct. 18 and won the Grade 2 Canadian at the Toronto track last Sept. 12.
The Possibly Perfect will be only the third stakes start in 16 races for Go Big Blue Nation, a four-year-old daughter of 2011 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom owned by Cannon Thoroughbreds, LLC.
The Possibly Perfect is named for the multiple Grade 1 winner that won 11 of 18 starts with two seconds and four thirds, earning $1,377,634 in the early and mid-1990's, when trained by the late Bobby Frankel.
As to Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner and third-place Grade 1 Belmont Stakes finisher Rombauer, McCarthy said, “He's doing very well. He's in light training right now but we have nothing being considered for his next race.”
The Possibly Perfect will be presented as the ninth race on Sunday's card. The field includes Lady Noguez, Kent Desormeaux, 20-1; Go Big Blue Nation, Flavien Prat, 5-2; Dogtag, Umberto Rispoli, 9-5; Dynapower, Tiago Pereira, 50-1; Neige Blanche, Juan Hernandez, 3-1; Catch the Eye, Abel Cedillo, 15-1; Rideforthecause, Mario Gutierrez, 4-1; and Kuora, Trevor McCarthy, 10-1.
The post McCarthy To Start Rideforthecause, Go Big Blue Nation In Possibly Perfect Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
