Evening Jewel, who proved in 2010 that she can handle any surface or distance with authority, tries Santa Anita's unique downhill turf course for the first time in the Monrovia Stakes.
The daughter of Northern Afleet , whom trainer James Cassidy describes as “an overachiever,” figures to be a solid favorite upon returning from a layoff that followed a third-place finish behind Dubai Majesty and Switch in the seven-furlong Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) on dirt at Churchill Downs Nov. 5.
The Monrovia, at about 6 1/2 furlongs, is the second race on the Santa Anita card with a 1 p.m. start time.
There is little that Tom and Marilyn Braly’s bay filly has not achieved during her 14-race career. She has been no worse than third in 13 starts following her debut. She has won grade I competitions on grass (Del Mar Oaks) and synthetics (Ashland at Keeneland). She lost by a nose to Blind Luck on dirt in the grade I Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in 2010. And she has been victorious at distances ranging from 6 ½ furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.
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