Groupie Doll wins again in TCA Stakes

The magnificent Groupie Doll stamped herself as the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (gr. I) with an authoritative victory this afternoon in the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.

Sent off as the 2-5 favorite in the six-furlong sprint, Groupie Doll broke cleanly but quickly settled back into the fifth position as Honey Chile ran the opening quarter mile in :22.73 seconds. Newstouse was content to track the pace in second, followed then by Mega Dream and Strike the Moon. Zermatt, Sally Sally, Giant Sensation, and Emma's Encore were the early trailers.

Rounding the turn, Groupie Doll moved up along the inside to reach contention, but lacked racing room and needed an opening. It came at the top of the stretch, when Newstouse drifted out just a bit. Taking advantage of the narrow gap, jockey Rajiv Maragh sent Groupie Doll for the hole, and his mount responded with a terrific run that swallowed up Honey Chile with ease. From there, the race was over, as Groupie Doll coasted home uncontested to win by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:09.21 seconds.

Strike the Moon narrowly out-finished Honey Chile for second, while Zermatt rounded out the superfecta. Mega Dream, Newstouse, Sally Sally, Emma's Encore, and Giant Sensation completed the order of finish.

Trained by William Bradley and owned by William Bradley, Fred Bradley, Carl Hurst, and Brent Burns, Groupie Doll has now won eight of her fifteen starts, and has earned $1,047,850.

-Keelerman

GROUPIE DOLL WINS THE PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS MASTERS STAKES!

Heavily favored Groupie Doll made her return to the races a successful one when she dominated ten rivals in the $400,600 Presque Isle Downs Master Stakes (gr. II) last Saturday night.

Making her first start since a stunning victory in the Humana Distaff (gr. I) earlier this year, Groupie Doll was allowed to settle into seventh place early on as It's Me Mom opened up a 4 1/2-length early lead while running the opening quarter mile in a quick :21.70 seconds. Holiday for Kitten, Interrogate, and Atlantic Hurricane were racing together in second, followed closely by Sweet Cassiopeia, Bouquet Booth, and Groupie Doll. Sally Sally, Kitty in a Tizzy, Salty Strike, and Ariana D were the early trailers.
It's Me Mom continued to lead through a half-mile in :44.65 seconds and entered the homestretch with the lead, but Groupie Doll was putting in a powerful run on the far outside. The favorite took command of the lead just inside the eighth pole and drew off strongly from there, coasting home the winner by 3 3/4 lengths under jockey Rajiv Maragh while stopping the clock for 6-1/2 furlongs in 1:16.32 seconds.

Kitty in a Tizzy outfinished Sally Sally by a neck for second, with Sally Sally a similar margin in front of fourth-place finisher It's Me Mom. Sweet Cassiopeia, Atlantic Hurricane, Ariana D, Interrogate, Salty Strike, Bouquet Booth, and Holiday for Kitten completed the order of finish.

The winner is trained by William Bradley and owned by Fred Bradley, William Bradley, Carl Hurst, and Brent Burns.

-Keelerman

Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Master Stakes (gr. II), to be run on Saturday at Presque Isle Downs. The 6-1/2 furlong race has drawn an exceptional field of twelve fillies and mares, led by two-time grade I winner Groupie Doll.

1 Sweet Cassiopeia
2 Atlantic Hurricane
3 Interrogate
4 Holy Heavens
5 Bouquet Booth
6 Holiday for Kitten
7 Groupie Doll
8 Sally Sally
9 Kitty in a Tizzy
10 It's Me Mom
11 Ariana D
12 Salty Strike

-Keelerman