Martin S. Schwartz’ Stacelita will be going for her second consecutive grade I triumph when she takes on seven others in the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park Oct. 1. The French-bred 5-year-mare, a French champion and classic winner, will carry 123 pounds compared to 119 for the others.
The $500,000 Flower Bowl, contested at 1 1/4 miles over the inner turf course for fillies and mares, 3 and up, is the fifth race on the card and is scheduled for 2:47 p.m. (EDT).
Stacelita, by prominent German sire Monsun, showed plenty of spunk in her two starts following her mid-year arrival from France. She finished third against males, beaten a length, in the United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) at 1 3/8 miles and then won the Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) at 1 3/16 miles Aug. 13. Trained by Chad Brown, Stacelita will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez, who was aboard her in the Beverly D.
The Flower Bowl also has attracted the first three finishers from the Glens Falls Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Saratoga Sept. 5. Emerald Beech rallied to beat pacesetter Dynaslew by 1 1/2 lengths, with Senada finishing nine lengths behind the winner in the 1 3/8 mile race.
The victory was the fourth straight for Emerald Beech. The Maria's Mon mare, trained by Jonathan Sheppard, won the Signature Stallion Waya Stakes on turf earlier at the Spa. Alex Solis returns to ride.
Dynaslew, who is looking for her first win this year, was a two-time graded stakes winner on turf last year. Trained by Seth Benzel, she won the Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT) and the Beaugay Stakes (gr. IIIT). Corey Nakatani rides the Dynaformer mare for the first time.
Senada, whose sole career win is a maiden score last year, has finished third or better in her last five starts this year. The Pulpit filly was nipped by Emerald Beech in the Signature Stallion Waya Stakes. Trainer Barclay Tagg has secured a new rider in Cornelio Velasquez.
Aruna is another in the field who sports a graded stakes win this year. The Mr. Greeley filly captured the Edward P. Evans All Along Stakes (gr. IIIT) two races back and then finished a close second in the Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga. Formerly ridden by Dominquez, Aruna will be ridden in the Flower Bowl by Edgar Prado. H. Graham Motion trains.
Gitchee Goomie sports two stakes wins on grass this year, but both came in restricted events. The City Zip filly, trained by Richard Violette Jr., eked out a nose triumph in the Yaddo Stakes at Saratoga last time out. Alan Garcia returns to ride.
Distorted Legacy, trained by Angel Penna Jr., has won twice this year but both wins have come on the main track. The Distorted Humor filly won the Sky Beauty Stakes at Belmont Park two races back. Rajiv Maragh rides again.
Rounding out the field is Deluxe, who finished second in the restricted Paris Opera Stakes on grass in her first outing following her arrival from France, where she was both a stakes winner and group I-placed last year. John Velazquez rides the daughter of Storm Cat for trainer Bill Mott.
$500,000 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (gr. IT, Race 5, 2:47 p.m.), 3 & Up, Fillies and Mares, 1 1/4 Miles (Turf)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, Odds
1. Deluxe, J R Velazquez, 119, W I Mott
2. Dynaslew, C S Nakatani, 119, S Benzel
3. Emerald Beech, A O Solis, 119, J E Sheppard
4. Aruna, E S Prado, 119 H G Motion
5. Gitchee Goomie, A Gracia, 119, R A Violette Jr.
6. Distorted Legacy, R Maragh, 119 A J Penna Jr.
7. Senada, C H Velasquez, 119, B Tagg
8. Stacelita, R A Dominguez, 123, C C Brown