An impressive winner of the Test (G1) at Saratoga, Covfefe will make her final tune-up for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in Saturday’s $125,000 Dogwood at Churchill Downs. Brad Cox trains the fast three-year-old filly and Shaun Bridgmohan rides.
Covfefe broke her maiden at Churchill Downs last September but made only one more start at age two, returning this spring with an allowance tally at Keeneland. She followed with an impressive 8 1/2-length score in the Miss Preakness (G3), establishing a new six-furlong track record at Pimlico (1:07.70), and wasn’t disgraced when sustaining her lone setback this season, a half-length third to Grade 1 winner Mia Mischief in the Roxelana two back.
The daughter of Into Mischief showed an affinity for Saturday’s seven-furlong distance when posting a half-length score in the August 3 Test, drawing away from Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress in deep stretch, and Covfefe shows a pair of five-furlong bullet works in preparation. The front-running specialist breaks from the far outside post among six sophomore rivals.
Grade 2 winner Champagne Anyone will cut back to a sprint for Ian Wilkes. A close third when making her last one-turn start in the Forward Gal (G2) earlier this year, the Street Sense filly will try to factor from just off the pace with regular rider Chris Landeros. Bell’s the One rates as a versatile sort, capturing stakes races on dirt and turf, and the Neil Pession pupil finished second in the Eight Belles (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day at the same seven-furlong trip. Corey Lanerie has the call.
Free Cover and Istan Council exit runaway allowance scores at Ellis Park and both fillies have won under the Twin Spires. Take Charge Angel, last seen taking a Churchill Downs allowance in mid-June, completes the field.
