Ruthenia
won a pair of races, including an overnight stakes, at Belmont during
her 2-year-old season, and is looking to add to her resume in Saturday's Grade III
Athenia. After registering a 10-1 upset in Monmouth Park’s Grade 3
Violet in May at Monmouth Park, the 4-year-old was fourth in both the
Grade 3 Eatontown Handicap in June at Monmouth and the Grade 2 Ballston
Spa presented by Jose Cuervo on August 25 at Saratoga.
Christophe Lorieul, assistant to trainer Christophe
Clement, said Ruthenia runs her best when there isn’t too much give in
the ground.
“At the moment the week is good in terms of the weather
forecast,” said Lorieul. “We just hope it stays that way because she’s a
small filly and I don’t think she cares too much for good ground.”
Jose Lezcano has the call aboard Ruthenia, a homebred for Virginia Kraft Payson, from post 2.
Dealbata, a stakes winner in France and in the United Stakes, seeks her first win at the graded level.
Since being purchased by Martin Schwartz and imported to
the United States, Dealbata has won the Mohegan Sky overnight stakes
in June at Belmont and finished second in the Saratoga’s restricted De
La Rose in August and Belmont’s Grade 3 Noble Damsel on September 15.
Eddie Castro is named to ride Dealbata, the 7-5 morning-line favorite. The 4-year-old Dubawi filly drew post 7.
Athenia entries also include La Cloche, Embarr, and Law
of The Range, respectively sixth, seventh, and eighth in the Noble
Damsel; Laughing, a Grade 3 winner who was eighth in the Grade 2
Canadian; The Underling, who dead heated for second in an optional
claimer at Saratoga; Thunder Emilia, seventh in the Ballston Spa, and
Martita Sangrita, winner of the Red Carpet at Penn National and second
in the Omnibus at Monmouth. Arena Elvira was entered for the main track
only.