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Elm Drive, Roses for Debra to Clash in Giant's Causeway

The $300,000 contest April 13 features a field of 12 fillies and mares. 

Elm Drive wins the 2023 Mizdirection Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Elm Drive wins the 2023 Mizdirection Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Benoit Photo

Returning from a three-month hiatus, sprinter Elm Drive will run the shortest race since her maiden win in the April 13 Giant's Causeway Stakes (G3T). The $300,000 contest is run over 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland and features a field of 12 fillies and mares that are 3 years old and older. 

After dropping the Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) Jan. 14 at Santa Anita Park, trainer Phil D'Amato gave his charge some time off. 

Little Red Feather Racing's Kentucky-bred daughter of Mohaymen has 16 races to her credit with four on turf including the last three. But since she broke her maiden at Los Alamitos Race Course in June 2021 at five furlongs, she has always gone at least six furlongs. The turf and shorter distance may play into her ability to "pounce," as D'Amato told BloodHorse last year.

Standing in her way may be Roses for Debra, returning after a ninth-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Santa Anita her last time out. Before that, the Liam's Map  mare had top-three finishes in all but one of her 10 starts. 

She's raced at the distance three times, hitting the wire first twice—the 2023 Smart N Fancy Stakes and Caress Stakes (G3T)—representing her last two victories. 

Not to be discounted is Play the Music. The 4-year-old Mo Town  filly trained by Mark Casse has had a strong start to the year with a pair of victories following a third. 

Entries: Giant's Causeway S. (G3T)

Keeneland, Saturday, April 13, 2024, Race 7

  • Grade IIIT
  • 5 1/2f
  • Turf
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 4:12 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
11Play the Music (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJose L. Ortiz122Mark E. Casse5/1
22Bling (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJohn R. Velazquez122Victoria H. Oliver6/1
33Jill Jitterbug (KY)Luan Machado122Ryan D. Walsh50/1
44Oeuvre (IL)Jareth Loveberry122Chris M. Block8/1
55B G Warrior (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateAlbin Jimenez122Hugo Andrade12/1
66Secret Money (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateTyler Gaffalione124Brendan P. Walsh15/1
77Port Townsend (KY)Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.122Cherie DeVaux20/1
88Roses for Debra (PA)Keeneland Sales GraduateIrad Ortiz, Jr.124Christophe Clement4/1
99Kissed by Fire (MD)Mike E. Smith122Peter Eurton10/1
1010Breeze Easy (GB)Julien R. Leparoux122Wayne M. Catalano30/1
1111Elm Drive (KY)Luis Saez122Philip D'Amato7/2
1212Love Reigns (IRE)Joel Rosario122Wesley A. Ward8/1
1313High Class (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateBrian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.122Steven M. Asmussen10/1