Among those pointing to next Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000
Foxwoods Gallant Bloom is Barry K. Schwartz’ homebred Lovely Lil, a 1 ¾-length winner of the
Union Avenue for New York-breds at Saratoga Race Course on August 22.
The Union Avenue
was the second start of 2011 for the 4-year-old daughter of Tiznow, who also
won an optional claimer at the Spa on July 27.
“We’ve always thought she was better than just a New
York-bred stakes filly,” said trainer Mike Hushion of Lovely Lil, who last
year was fourth in the Grade 1 Test and seventh in the Gallant Bloom.
“This seems like a nice spot for her. Her last race was a nice,
conservative race; she wasn’t all out.”
In the Union Avenue, Lovely Lil sat behind opening fractions of 22.15
and 45.12, then came three-wide on the turn to take command in the stretch and
go onto an easy victory.
“It was a good type of race to step up off,” said Hushion.
The trainer added that B Shanny,
front-running winner of a seven-furlong maiden race at the Spa on August 20,
continues to be pointed for the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park
on August 8. The Street Cry colt most recently worked five furlongs in 1:03.45
at Belmont on
September 12.
“Ramon [Dominguez] worked him,” said Hushion. “He
thinks he’s getting noticeably more and more focused as time goes
on.”