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Brown enters formidable pair for Memories of Silver

by Najja Thompson

A talented group of eight 3-year-old fillies, each in search of their first stakes win, will compete in the fifth running of Friday's $100,000 Memories of Silver going 1 1/16 miles on the outer turf, the penultimate day of the spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Entered for trainer Chad Brown is French-bred La Feve for owners Madaket Stables, Robert LaPenta, Lindy Farms and Team Hanley, along with the English-bred Blowout for owner Peter Brant.

La Feve made her first six starts in her native France, breaking her maiden in her fifth try at seven furlongs in July at Mont-de-Marsan Racecourse. She finished third in her next start, the Group 3 Prix d'Aumale at a mile on September 8 at Longchamp, before being transferred to Brown.

Drawing the rail in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park on February 3 in her first start for her new connections, La Feve was bumped at the start and traveled four wide, finishing third. In her most recent start in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks, she again drew the rail and rallied to finish fourth when lacking racing room late in the lane.

Blowout won her debut on January 23 at Tampa Bay Downs at the Memories of Silver distance by a head. The Dansili filly, out of Group 1-winning dam Beauty Parlour, returned to finish second by a half-length in the Florida Oaks after a troubled trip.

"They're training really well," said Brown. "They both came out of the race at Tampa in good shape and this seemed like the next logical spot to run them back.

"I think you could make the case with both of them that they could have won with a clear run," added Brown. "Blowout [encountered trouble] at a really bad point in time because she was almost to a clear run where she does her best running and really had to pause. La Feve was so committed inside that she needed something to open up, and it never did."

With Irad Ortiz, Jr. retaining the mount, La Feve will depart from post 3. Blowout will leave from post 2 with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano aboard.

Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle Feel Glorious for owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform Racing.

An English-bred sired by Bated Breath, Feel Glorious made her first five career starts in England for trainer George Baker breaking her maiden in her third start at Goodwood last September. 

Feel Glorious made two more starts in Europe finishing fourth in a handicap at Salisbury and second in the Grosser Preis Soldier Hollow Youngster at Hannover Racecourse in Germany.

In her North American debut for new connections, Feel Glorious bested a field of eight in an optional-claiming race on March 9 at Gulfstream Park at a mile.

"I thought she really handled herself well in her first start here," said Clement. "She's been training for this race here in Florida and we're looking forward to her stakes debut in this spot."

Her Royal Highness, trained by Graham Motion for owner Albert Frassetto, enters off a seventh-place running in the Florida Oaks.

The Paddy O'Prado filly broke her maiden in her second start on the dirt and switched surfaces to the grass following a fifth-place finish in the Suncoast at Tampa on February 9.

Drawing the rail, Her Royal Highness will have Manny Franco aboard.

Rounding out the field is Aunt Hattie for Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott and St. Elias Stable. The dark bay daughter of Camelot graduated at first asking on November 3 on the Aqueduct turf and then shipped to Florida to finish sixth in the Wait a While.  Last time out, in an optional claiming event at a mile on the Tampa Bay Downs turf, Aunt Hattie returned to winning form with a neck score.

Junior Alvarado, aboard for the maiden win, has the call from post 6.

Rounding out the field are main-track only entrants It Justhitthe Wire for owner Leonard Green; Big Dom Racing Stable's Takecharge Mirella; and Two Dozen Roses for Harrell Ventures.

First post time on Friday's nine-race card is 1:30 p.m.